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Crucial To Develop Technopreneurs With Innovative Technologies, Says Mukhriz
KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- It is crucial to develop local technopreneurs withinnovative and cutting edge technologies to position Malaysia as a developednation by 2020, says International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister DatukMukhriz Mahathir.
He said development of small and medium enterprises(SMEs) in the information technology and communications (ICT) sector wasregarded as one of the key drivers for the country's economic growth in thedigital era.
"The New Economic Model has outlined several areaswhere ICT implementation will be acatalyst for economic growth.
"However, the National Economic Action Council haslamented that poor ICT utilisation among local SMEs and their inability tofully tap into advances in ICT are causes for concern that is impeding ournational development," he said when opening the inaugural SME EnterpriseSoftware Technology and Business Solution 2010 Conference and Exhibition(SESTECH 2010).
Mukhriz said the government had consistently urged SMEsand industries to innovate, utilise technology and adopt ICT solutions toremain competitive.
He said the government had allocated RM350 million forsoft loans and capacity enhancement programmes and RM538 million for SMEdevelopment programmes as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib TunRazak when tabling the 2010 Budget.
Meanwhile, SESTECH 2010 organising chairman Datuk DaudDaros said ICT usage among SMEs was still very low at around 25 per cent.
He said the adoption of business management software intheir operations would enable them to enhance competitiveness.
"There are abundance of enterprise softwaremanagement tools, content and data delivery mechanism available today for SMEs to adoptto increase their efficiency and effectiveness," he said.
On SESTECH 2010, Daud said the three-day event, whichstarted yesterday, would provide SMEs a valuable insight into the latest ITproducts and solutions.-- BERNAMA
