SIMDEC RENAMED SME CORP

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- The Small and Medium Industries
Development Corporation (Smidec) is to be renamed SME Corp Malaysia with the
amendment to the Smidec Bill expected to be approved the latest by next week,
Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Mukhriz Mahathir said.

He said under the amended Act, SME Corp will be responsible for the
coordination, supervision and assessment of programmes for the development of
small and medium sized industries (SMIs).

SME Corp will also be the one-stop information and reference centre to
enable SMIs get information on all the development programmes and assistance
available to them from the various ministries and government agencies.

"It would also evaluate the implementation of policies, strategies and
development programmes undertaken by 14 ministries and 60 government agencies.
SME Corp will also be the Secretariat for the National SME Development Council
(NSDC).

"The amendment to Act 539 will have to be carried out to ensure that SME
Corp is able to play its role more effectively to achieve the development
objectives for SMIs as set by the government," he told a press conference at the
Parliament Lobby here Tuesday.

Mukhriz said the Amended Act 539 will also facilitate NSDC's role as the
policy maker for the development of SMIs.

He said NSDC also had the role of ensuring that the development of SMIs in
the country covered all existing economic sectors.

"The council is chaired by Prime Minister Najib Razak and has 21 members
comprising ministers from various ministries involved in the development of
SMIs.

"For the first time, the council will also have representatives from the
private sector with representation from SMI related associations as well as
representatives from the manufacturing, services and agriculture sector.

"There will be representatives from the Sabah and Sarawak state governments
in the council. This move is intended to gather feedback and input on the
development of SMIs in the country," he said.
-- BERNAMA