by ANIS HAZIMA / pic by TMR FILE
THE Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) has enhanced guidelines for its eTrade programme for Malaysian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), effective July 1.
Matrade deputy CEO (exporters development) Abu Bakar Yusof (picture) said the enhancement is to better streamline its facilitation and encourage more MSMEs to benefit from the programme.
“Under the revised guideline, the qualification criteria have been updated for both schemes, taking into account the need for MSMEs to diversify their export markets and upscale their exports through a presence in various cross-border e-commerce marketplaces,” Abu Bakar said in a statement today.
Matrade noted that the initiative is to boost exports through cross-border e-commerce marketplaces, which started with the introduction of eTrade under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) from 2017 to 2020 where a total of 3,358 MSMEs benefitted with more than RM300 million worth of export revenue generated.
“As businesses, especially in international trade and exports, continue their upward stride in their path of recovery post-Covid, eCommerce now plays an increasingly important role in sustaining business activities, including export,” it stated.
Thus, Matrade continued its eTrade Programme 2.0 under the 12MP starting from March 2021 to facilitate Malaysian MSMEs.
“Under the programme, Malaysian MSMEs are offered two schemes of export facilitation initiatives like onboarding scheme worth RM5,000 and digital marketing and training (DMT) scheme worth RM20,000 for each company, respectively,” it said.
For the DMT scheme, qualified MSMEs will be able to receive up to RM20,000 per company in reimbursement for their expenses in conducting digital marketing activities to promote their products overseas and for eCommerce-related training programmes they choose to attend.
For more information on getting businesses online globally through eTrade Programme 2.0 visit www.matrade.gov.my/en/export-