KUALA LUMPUR – The current COVID-19 pandemic which started as a health crisis, has now quickly evolved into a global economic crisis at a speed and magnitude we have not seen in our lifetime. The global market recession and economic slowdown have caused businesses all around the world to face unprecedented obstacles. Under this new normal era, SME businesses are confronting the most stringent challenges.
In order to help local SMEs through this pandemic, Max Capital Management Holding Ltd and Money Compass Media will be organising Malaysia’s first-ever SME e-Fair which takes the theme “Thriving SMEs Success & Resilience into New Normal Era”. To make the digital event a greater success, the organisers will also ride on the Merdeka Day opportunity in August and making it as the 1st Merdeka Digital e-Fair & SME e-Fair in Malaysia.
“The digital e-Fair will allow us to assist more SMEs who have earlier expressed their keen interest to participate to have sufficient time to prepare themselves for this e-Fair,” said Adj. Prof. Max Shangkar, Organising Chairman of the SME e-Fair in a statement today.
He added that the e-Fair will now allow more government agencies, associations, industry key opinion leaders and speakers to participate and generate more collaborations and opportunities to the SMEs. To encourage more associations to join, the organisers will be giving a 50% sponsorship on the e-booth to the first 30 supporting associations.
Here are some important announcements regarding the event:
- The pre-launch of the SME e-Fair marketplace will be held on 11th August for visitors to experience and visit the marketplace.
- The sign-up invitation for visitors to attend the Webinar sessions will proceed as scheduled on 11-12 August 2020.
- The SME e-Fair will reschedule from 11-12 August 2020 to 27-29 August 2020 (Thursday – Saturday).
The SME e-Fair aims to provide an effective bridging e-platform between solution providers and SMEs which will enable SMEs to acquire various solutions and consultations to help them recover their business post-COVID-19 pandemic, where everything is in one place: in the cloud.
The e-Fair will be segmented into three parts which will run simultaneously: virtual exhibition, cloud conference, and SME marketplace. The virtual exhibition will present virtual booths by government agencies, financial institutions, financial service providers, telecommunication providers, training agencies, as well as digital and e-commerce solution providers.
Meanwhile, the cloud conference will consist of back-to-back webinars and talks given by speakers from various government bodies, associations, and corporations such as PERKESO, Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), SME Corporation Malaysia, and Maybank, among many others. The webinars will be exploring various issues in relation to PENJANA, SME financial solutions, business funding, e-commerce, and digitalisation.
The third segment of the SME e-Fair will be the SME marketplace, a virtual space for SMEs to promote their products and services to the masses. The marketplace will provide visibility for SME products and their business as a whole can improve with the high traffic the SME e-Fair marketplace expects to attract.
“We hope during this SME e-Fair, SMEs will be able to acquire the guidance they need on funding solutions, cashflow management, and digitalisation strategies to address immediate business challenges and be matched with relevant financial and digital solution providers,” said Max Shangkar.
An innovative technology platform combining audio visual, 3D animation, and articulate programme will be presented during the e-Fair for the convenience of SMEs in acquiring the information they need and easily connect to the right solution providers, in an easy, efficient, convenient, and engaging experience.
“The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic gave many organisations, especially SMEs, the obligation to rethink and reorganise their respective business models. Now, it is more important than ever for SMEs, who are the backbone of the Malaysian economy, to get connected to the right funding and digital solutions, evolve, and stay resilient. It is time for SMEs to not only survive, but to thrive,” said Amy Seok, the Organising Director of the SME e-Fair.
The SME e-Fair is supported by more than 20 organisations including SME Association Malaysia (SMEAM), Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), ASEAN Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation (ARFF), National Women Entrepreneurs Malaysia (NAWEM), BNI KL South, Malaysia Entrepreneurs’ Development Association (PUMM), and Muslim Business Network Association of Malaysia (MUBIN), Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCI Malaysia), and Federation Malaysia Chinese Chambers Association (FEMACCA).
For those who are interested to participate and would like to know more about the SME e-Fair, please visit the official SME e-Fair portal at http://smeefair.com.my/.
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