Sharing their views: Hosted by Naz (left), the webinar will feature (from second left) Hanafiah, Haliza and Amirhamzah among other notable industry and SME ecosystem players.
KUALA LUMPUR: While there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still much uncertainty for businesses in determining how they can best leverage current trends to prosper in the post-pandemic era.
Set to shed light on the opportunities and challenges for businesses in the wake of Covid-19, with consumer lifestyle and behaviour change, is the upcoming Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) 2021 #SOS: Save Our SMEs webinar.
Titled “Is Your Business Under Threat?”, the live webinar will be hosted by TV host and entrepreneur Naz Rahman in Bahasa Malaysia on Oct 14, at 3pm.
Those interested can register at bit.ly/eqrsobalab4.
Among the entrepreneurs who will be speaking at the event is Dr Hanafiah Yussof, the chief executive officer of Robopreneur Sdn Bhd, a Meritorious Achievement Award winner in the “up to RM25mil annual turnover” tier for SOBA 2020.
He said that despite the huge advances in digital adoption in recent years, the technology market in Malaysia has yet to mature, adding that demand during the Covid-19 pandemic for his company’s products fell due to lower purchasing power.
Hanafiah, who has more than 18 years of experience in robotics research and development and business, aims to develop and distribute commercial robots that empower humanity through Robopreneur.
Noting that he will speak on Robopreneur’s experiences in overcoming challenges arising from the pandemic, he said: “Taking the right action at the right time is very difficult but if we don’t start now, we will not be able to find the best course forward.
“Having the courage to take risks is also a part of success.”
Also sharing her company’s experience during Covid-19 and the way forward is Haliza Industries Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Nor Haliza Hussain.
Haliza Industries, a snack manufacturing company that specialises in halal corn- and potato-based snacks without monosodium glutamate and artificial colouring, not only distributes its products across Malaysia but also exports to Singapore, Brunei, China, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Seychelles and other countries.
During the webinar, Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) vice-president Amirhamzah Karim will also provide a different perspective on the need for all – be it public or private sector workers, SME or large corporations – to cooperate in driving nation-building activities in the right direction.
In addition, the webinar will also see notable industry and SME ecosystem players share their knowledge and expertise on how SMEs can best tap into opportunities and overcome new hurdles along the way.
These will include PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd chief marketing officer Kuan Eu Jin, Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd (CGC) bumiputra development and products senior vice-president Mohamed Azman Mohamed Taufik, Maxis Southern SME sales head Hirman Mohamad Soh, RHB Bank Bhd group retail distribution SME regional sales head Noor Hidayat Noordin and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) transformation and digital trade division senior director Amran Yem.
SOBA 2021 is organised by Star Media Group Bhd with Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd, Maxis, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd and RHB Bank Bhd as main sponsors and Matrade as the official trade promotion partner. Supported by the International Trade and Industry Ministry and Bursa Malaysia, it is audited by BDO with 988 and Suria as official media partners.
For more information on SOBA 2021, call The Star Events at 017-231 1789 or visit www.soba.com.my.