2020 BUDGET ENCOURAGES BUSINESSES TO MOVE INTO TECHNOLOGY SPHERE -- MDEC

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- The favourable provisions for digital adoption set out in the 2020 Budget denotes the government is actively encouraging more local businesses to move rapidly into the technology sphere, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) said.

Its chief executive officer, Surina Shukri said the allocation of RM70 million to build 14 one-stop Digital Enhancement Centres (DEC) will strengthen the nation’s position as the region’s tech and digital hub as it will facilitate access to financing and capacity building for businesses, specifically for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“Under the budget allocation, MDEC will continue to manage and improve its Digital Transformation Acceleration Programme (DTAP). Launched approximately a year ago, the programme offers Malaysian companies a structured approach to digital transformation.

“This is to help mid-tier companies and large corporations achieve increased productivity, reduce foreign labour dependency, and create a new source of growth or business model,” she told a post 2020 Budget media briefing here, Saturday.

Surina said the DEC network, which will also support the expansion of the ‘100 Go Digital’ programme, will facilitate capacity building for SMEs as they will have immediate access to advisory services, enhancement training, and direct financing, including grants.

On the proposed allocation of RM20 million towards creating a conducive, inclusive and competitive Digital Content Ecosystem, she said:

“The Malaysian digital content ecosystem represents an industry that has tremendous export potential, and is greatly reliant on our talent and ingenuity, and resonates very strongly with young Malaysians.

“The digital content industry is a critical sector within our Digital Economy and has seen significant success encouraged by MDEC’s on-going programmes and policies.

“The allocation of RM20 million represents another wonderful opportunity for all Malaysians and talented content creators from around the world to continue to build on that success,” she added.

She said this move reinforces the confidence that the country has for the creative content industry and by increasing opportunities to participate in this industry, Malaysia can, and will, step up its competitive efforts in this space and push the nation as the destination for digital content production.

“This will also send a vital signal to the region and global digital content industry that Malaysia is both serious and committed to developing world class animation, games, visual effects and digital content platforms,” she said.

Surina said this will also directly leverage Malaysia’s strong position as the regional hub for the creative content industry as it continues to locally produce world-class intellectual properties in animation and games.

“Similarly, we expect e-sports to raise its game with the additional RM20 million it has received. Malaysia’s digital creative industry is now a regional powerhouse that has the potential to become a global leader,” she said.

-- BERNAMA