MDEC AIMS RM5 MLN IN SALES AT MSC M'SIA GREAT ICT SALE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- The Multimedia Development Corporation
(MDeC) is looking at RM3 million to RM5 million in total sales from MSC Malaysia
Great ICT Sale, its first ever information communication technology (ICT)
solutions sales event aimed at local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"The event comes as part of MDeC's ongoing efforts to stimulate Malaysia's
SME growth and support new business opportunities in this market as a catalyst
for further economic growth," the vice president of its industry development
division, Saifol Bahri Mohamad Shamlan, told a media briefing here Thursday.

As SMEs represent 99.2 percent of businesses in Malaysia, the growth and
revenue potential from the sales will be largely beneficial, Saifol said.

The MSC Malaysia Great ICT Sale, held in conjunction with the National ICT
Month, will be held in three major cities, namely Kuala Lumpur with the venue
being the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Penang (Aug 7-9) and Johor Bahru (Aug
14-16).

The event is supported by the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation, Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (Smidec),
Malaysian Debt Ventures (MDV) as well as Telekom Malaysia (TM).

Saifol said the objectives of the campaign are to assist local SMEs in
moving up the value chain by leveraging on ICT as a strategic differentiator, as
well as to increase demand for local ICT products and services as part of the
government's initiatives to spur domestic consumption.

"The campaign will also to create a national platform for solution providers
to bundle easy-to-select ICT products and services packages at great value to
encourage local ICT adoption," he added.

The MSC Malaysia Great ICT Sale will have a two-pronged approach to driving
growth in the SME and software market.

It will provide MSC Malaysia status SME companies a platform to trade
their products and services as well as offer non-ICT related SMEs the
opportunity to leverage on locally-made digital solutions bundles for better
productivity and efficiency.

Bundles such as e-commerce solutions, SaaS solutions, niche SME solutions,
mobile marketing solutions and small or home office (SOHO) solutions can be
mixed-and-matched according to a buyer's needs.

Saifol said MDeC has also teamed up with MyBizPoint, TM's eMarketplace for
SME, to provide an online catalog for potential sellers and buyers, both local
and foreign.

The adoption rate for e-commerce by local SMEs, which is still low, is
expected to pick up within the next two years as the benefit of the service,
which is the cheapest means of doing business, is recognised, he added.

Besides ICT solutions sale, MDeC is working with Smidec, MDV and financial
institutions to facilitate financing options for SMEs interested in buying
software bundles.

"Against the current economic backdrop, we urge local SMEs to make full use
of this ICT 'stimulate package' to gain greater flexibility and adaptability in
their operating structure to stay competitive and create business opportunities
during this climate," Saifol said. (US$1=RM3.52)
-- BERNAMA