13 April 2021

News Release by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Lim Ban Hong


MATRADE’s eTrade 2.0 programme to empower local SMEs ride digital trend




Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Lim Ban Hong today convened via online video conferencing with the members of SME Association of Malaysia, Malaysia Cross Border e-Commerce Association, Malaysia Digital Chamber of Commerce (MDCC), to assist more local business people better understand the eTrade 2.0 programme launched by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in hopes of assisting local SMEs ride the digital trend, tap into the global market through domestic or international digital platforms, and accelerate the export of high-quality Malaysian products to all over the world.

Among the participants were Chin Chee Seong、the Vice President of SME Association of Malaysia cum the President of eBusiness Association Malaysia; Chris Daniel Wong, the President of MDCC; and Tuan Haji Amran Yem, Senior Director of MATRADE’s Transformation & Digital Trade Division.

The aforementioned eTrade 2.0 programme includes two incentive packages: (1) the first one being an RM5,000 onboarding scheme for onboarding any cross-border e-commerce platform or multiple platforms; (2) the Digital Marketing & Training Scheme is for undertaking digital marketing activities or attending e-Commerce training courses for up to RM20,000 whereby participating SMEs can use the money to cover the fees of any recognized e-commerce online training courses.

Datuk Lim said, “the eTrade 1.0 programme implemented by MATRADE from 2017 to 2020 helped a total of 3358 local SMEs; meanwhile, the eTrade 2.0 programme introduced in March this year added an extra RM20,000 incentive from the 1.0 base (RM5,000), in order to assist more SMEs to not just conduct business in the traditional sense, but also expand into the new digital era, this programme will help local products to expand their market and sales.”

Emphasising that “the nature of e-commerce is distinctly different from traditional brick and mortar shops,” Datuk Lim also highlighted that, “in this plan to empower e-commerce, the most valuable experience is learning from the experts in the trade, who can engage with SMEs and help devise a suitable sales plan, including: promotional video, search engine keyword optimisation, online payment, social media promotion, etc. Through this programme, participants can be led step by step in the technical know-how of e-commerce, allowing them to learn the operations directly, thereby reducing the frustration felt in the initial stages of starting a business.”

In addition to that, he said that, “Malaysia is approaching the post-pandemic period of economic revival; hence, local SMEs should not miss this opportunity to take advantage of the various incentives and financial aid introduced by the government, but to joint hands with the government in the digital economic blueprint, enter the realms of the global e-commerce market, and market Malaysian products across the globe.”

SMEs interested in the programme may visit www.matrade.gov.my/en/etrade for further details.

Datuk Lim Ban Hong
Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry
MCA Vice President

-MCA online-