15th Manufacturing Sabah Expo at Sabah Trade Centre

KOTA KINABALU: If you are already a small and medium entrepreneur or mulling to venture into Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), you should not miss the 15th Manufacturing Sabah Expo which is held at the Sabah Trade Centre here until tomorrow (Saturday).

Minister of Industrial Development, Datuk Raymond Tan is scheduled to declare open the expo today.

It showcases industrial automation, CAD, CAM, metrology surface and heat treatment, injection moulding, printing and packaging, textile and knitting, industrial safety pneumatic and hydraulic and factory automation and services.

In addition, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and SME Bank have also set up booths to advise entrepreneurs on the options and schemes at the disposal of SMEs.

Under the Small Debt Resolution Scheme (SDRS), BNM aims to help SMEs stay cash positive – a crucial ingredient in surviving global credit crunch.

Positive cash flow is the key to any business as it is a strong indicator that the business is able to meet working capital requirements, as well as service its financial obligations.

There may, however, be circumstances where the operations may be able to meet working capital requirements but not financial obligations. Under special circumstances where this is deemed a temporary setback that can be rectified and the owners and management of business are sincere and committed to resolve the financial hiccups, the SDRS will facilitate to provide reprieve to the business, allowing additional time for the business to turn around, explained BNM.

Meanwhile, SME Bank provides start-up financing for fresh graduates to go into professional services such as legal practice, clinic and accounting.

As a development financial institution, SME Bank is policy-driven in the active development of small and medium enterprises which has its secretariat at BNM.

It helps export-oriented SMEs in the global market. Today, companies compete not only within an industry nationwide, but it also competes with companies across industries globally.

SME Global fast tracks the participation of SMEs in the global market. To increase national productivity and competitiveness, it is one of the key thrusts of the 9th Malaysia Plan that Malaysia expands its markets for homegrown products and services through the generation of knowledge-intensive and skills-based capabilities. The SME Global is conceived in close collaboration with its strategic partners.