KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) -- Beginning this year, the annual award programme Enterprise 50 (E50) is open to all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) incorporated in Malaysia.

This means, local equity ownership is no longer considered as a qualifying criteria.

SME Corp Malaysia Chairman Datuk Ir Dr Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid said the change was to encourage and allow participation from all locally incorporated SMEs and turn the programme into a platform for them to benchmark against their peers, both local and international SMEs established in Malaysia.

"This is one of the ways companies can benchmark themselves within the industry," he told reporters after the official launch of E50 here on Friday.

Since its inception in 1997, E50 has continuously served as a foundation for the development of locally incorporated companies with global orientation and which are able to compete in a more liberalised and highly competitive environment.

To date, the award programme has attracted a total of 1,483 participations and has established a winner's fraternity of 455 companies.

Now in its 14th year, E50 is supported by the International Trade and Industry Ministry and is jointly organised by SME Corp Malaysia and Deloitte Malaysia with the support and sponsorship from Telekom Malaysia Bhd, RHB Bank Bhd, Business Times, Media Prima Bhd, MALAYSIA SME^TM and Celcom Axiata Bhd as new partner for this year.-- BERNAMA