Malaysia ecommerce to grow 20pc

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 13 (Business Times) -- Malaysia's electronic-commerce (e-commerce) trade is expected to grow 20 per cent this year, backed by private initiatives and supportive government policies, the National ICT Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) chairman, Wei Chuan Beng, said today.

"We'd like to see more small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs), especially those in the smaller towns and rural areas, to latch on to information communication technology to promote their businesses," he said.

He was speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur after the launch of the second PIKOM-organised National ICT Month 2010 (NIM 2010), themed "e-Commerce for Global Reach", by Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili.

At the same event, PIKOM president C.J. Ang said research firm, IDC Malaysia, expected the country's e-commerce to have a compounded annual growth rate of 16 per cent this year.

He added the country's business-to-consumers transaction this year was estimated at US$3 billion while business-to-business at around US$20 billion.

On another note, Wei said NIM 2010 would see seven core programmes carried out between July 13 and August 12.

They include the PC Fair 2010, E-Commerce Media Supplement, Strategic Review 2010, Leadership Summit, Business Success Forum, SME Business Success With ICT Series and the World Cyber Games Final Round.

Earlier, Ongkili said e-commerce could be an important driver for breakthrough and development of SMEs which could translate into valuable visibility, generating multiple business opportunities on a global scale.

"Any initiative that promotes good business also goes a long way towards achieving high-income status as espoused by the recently unveiled New Economic Model by the year 2020," he said.

He added that e-commerce was the most effective way to create trade opportunities and widen the business channels and it was also an important factor of revolution in economic planning, business model, investment model and lifestyle.

"As the ministry leads the Malaysia Innovative Year in 2010 with the theme 'Celebrating Creativity', the NIM 2010 truly is a good platform to showcase the innovation and creativity from the ICT sector," he said.