KUCHING: Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) on today held a benchmarking programme here to step up efforts on driving the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sarawak.
Themed “Global Supply Chain and Sustainability” the event was the first to be held in East Malaysia, with Kuching becoming its first location.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abu Bakar Yusof said Matrade has adopted an inclusive and holistic approach to the export development agenda.
“We develop a continuous funnelling strategy where we are guiding these MSMEs at the early stage to be new exporters, facilitating them to grow bigger to become Mid-Tier Companies (MTCs) and later, large corporations”, he said.
The programme also aimed at paving a much closer working relationship between MSMEs and MTCs in terms of fostering strong networking and subsequently opening up opportunities for MSMEs to be part of the MTCs’ export supply chain.
The three hour programme also featured a segment titled “The Mini Fireside Chat” with the topic “Grow Bigger, Go Global”.
The segment featured some of the most important MTCs in Sarawak, namely Kim Hin Industry Berhad and East Asia Palm Products Sdn Bhd, both of which are successful alumnis of Mid-Tier Companies Development Programme (MTCDP).
MTCDP started in 2014 as one of the government’s high impact initiatives in Malaysia’s development plan, aimed to accelerate the export growth of Mid-Tier Companies to be the regional and global champions.
Also present during the programme was deputy director of Matrade Muhd Sharulmiza Zakaria, programme director of MTCDP Samrat Bose and other guests.
