SMIDEC, REBRANDED AS SME CORP MALAYSIA

PUTRAJAYA, July 9 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak Thursday announced
the rebranding of the Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation
(SMIDEC) to SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp), with the aim of developing a
competitive and resilient small medium enterprise (SME) sector to overcome the
economic crisis.

Najib said this after chairing the ninth meeting of the National SME
Development Council at his office here.

The meeting also approved the role and scope of the new SMIDEC.

Amendments to the SMIDEC Act 539 have been approved by the Dewan Rakyat and
will be debated by the Senate.

"SME Corp is expected to be begin operations next month," Najib said.

He said the main role of SME Corp is to act as an information and one-stop
referral centre for SMEs, coordinate data and programmes related to SMEs to
embrace all sectors of the economy as well as the management of data,information
and to undertake research pertaining to SMEs.

"SME Corp will become a referral centre for anyone to seek assistance,
including SME banks," he added.
-- BERNAMA