MICRO, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) need to be exposed to digital entrepreneurship for wider market penetration and to generate higher income, says MYNIC Bhd.

       Chief executive officer Datuk Hasnul Fadhly Hasan says exposure to digital entrepreneurship has indeed proven to be effective as more rural entrepreneurs have started using online platforms to market their products.

       Citing an example, Hasnul says a brass seller who previously only sold products in Jasin, Melaka with an income of RM500 a month has managed to expand through online platforms and started to sell to customers in Brunei, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

       “Within three months, he managed to generate more than RM50,000 through online platforms.

       “Before joining the MYNIC programme, the trader did not know that his products could be marketed on the website and there were various ways for promotion online,” he told audience after signing a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between UTMSpace and MYNIC Bhd in a virtual ceremony on Thursday.

       Hasnul says his party has been working with various ministries and agencies including the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corp (MDEC) since 2019 to organise webinars and training sessions for MSMEs.

       By collaborating with several strategic partners, a total of 14,000 participants from various business backgrounds have benefitted through the MYNIC-organised programmes this year.“Digitalism is something that is changing the world and most countries are turning towards digital entrepreneurship. If we do not give exposure to entrepreneurs, Malaysia will be left behind,” he adds.

       Based on a report by the World Bank, Hasnul says Malaysians are savvy online shoppers so the country needs to produce more online merchants.

       “We do not want to continue to be a consumer nation as we have many entrepreneurs with good products. We want to market their products to the international market,” he says.

       Meanwhile, UTMSpace managing director and chief executive officer Prof Azlan Ab Rahman says through the collaboration with MYNIC, a professional certificate in digital entrepreneurship has been introduced. The certificate programme enables entrepreneurs, ranging from institutes of higher learning to MSMEs, including in rural areas, to utilise digital entrepreneurship knowledge.

       There are five main modules in the programme including an introduction to digital marketing, marketing through search engine optimisation, social media marketing, website development and project integration.

       Participants will apply the knowledge in the modules to a project that will receive continuous guidance for three months.

       “This effort is to strengthen the capabilities, reskilling and upskilling of young entrepreneurs. It can also help them to understand the current needs in online business, thus ensuring increased national productivity in the digital sector,” he says. — Bernama