IT opportunities for small-scale entrepreneurs

THE Openbook Programme by MCA ICT Resource Centre (MIRC) and Share Services IT Advisory Sdn Bhd (SSITA) is timely to complement the soon-to-be-launched Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER).  

MCA new technology and inno-vation bureau deputy chairman Datuk Koay Kar Huah said it was the “right time” to open up more Information Technology (IT) opportunities in this region. 

The programme was launch- ed with the aim of fostering ICT adoption among small and medium-scale entrepreneurs (SMEs).  

The collaboration would enable SMEs to buy IT products and ser-vices at prices offered to multinational companies, he said. 

“In this digital age, it is impor-tant to use IT in order to develop further,” Koay said at the opening of the Openbook Programme ‘Solution for Profit and Competi-tiveness’ Penang roadshow in Bayview Hotel recently. 

Digital age:(from left)Koay and SSITA chief executive officer Francis C.K.Quek visting an exhibition booth.

The event, in collaboration with IBM, SAP, Lenovo, Canon, Maxis and Powerware, included an exhibition on IT products and talks by IT professionals.  

In his speech, Koay said that latest statistics showed that 39% of Malaysia's population were Internet users, compared to 67% in Korea. 

He said China was the country to look to if people wanted to know the future of e-commerce. 

“China currently has 200 million Internet users and the number of users is growing at an annual rate of 18%,” he said.  

”Its Alibaba.com (business-to-business e-commerce site) has registered three million users promoting and sourcing their goods from this site,” he said. 

He added that the instant message provider QQ had 227 million users and had become as important as the facsimile and telephone in maintaining communication with customers.