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SPEECH BY MR CHUA TIAM WEE, NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF SMI ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA ON THE OCCASION OF THE SMIAM MEMBERS’ NETWORKING NITE ON 9TH OCTOBER 2009
Salutations:
Yang Berhormat Datuk Liew Vui Keong,
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department
Dato Dato,
Distinguish Guests
Members of the Press
Ladies and gentlemen,
On behalf of SMI Association of Malaysia, I bid you all a very warm welcome to the SMIAM Member’s Networking Nite 2009. Thank you for taking time off from your busy schedule to attend this evening’s function.
First of all, I would like to thank Yang Berhormat Datuk Liew Vui Keong, the honourable Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for coming to grace this evening’s occasion. Thank you YB. Your attendance has certainly enhanced the networking value and lifted this Networking Nite several notches higher in the prestige scale of social business gatherings. Can we show our appreciation with a round of applause for YB?
Ladies and Gentlemen
Before I proceed to delve into the raison d erte for this SMIAM Networking Nite, let me share with you a little about SMI Association of Malaysia’s history and activities.
SMI Association of Malaysia was formed in July 1995 with the objective of promoting the interests of small and medium industries in Malaysia by organizing SMEs into a more cohesive group with a greater voice, and to improve its efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and performance through well-planned development programmes.
Since its inception, the Association has been active in organizing relevant conferences, seminars, roadshows and other projects to disseminate information to its members and SME operators in the country.
Some of the major events organised by the association includes:
• the National Industrial Conference in 1997
• SMI National Census in 1998
• Nationwide Roadshow on RM1.5 billion Financing Fund 1998
• SMI Export Conference 1998
• Roadshow on E-Commerce and Millennium Y2K in 1999
• Competitive Position Towards AFTA and WTO Seminar Roadshow in 2002
• Malaysia Taiwan Industrial Conference in 2003
• Malaysia China Economic Conference 2002, 2004, 2006
• SMI One-Stop Solution Exhibitions 2002-2008
• Malaysia-India Economic Conference 2005, 2008
• Malaysia-China Shandong Yantai & Qingdao Trade Mission 2007
• Malaysia-Vietnam Economic Conference 2007
• Trade Mission to Hanoi, Vietnam 2008
• The annual SME Recognition Award and Grand Dinner 2003-2009, and
many more other events.
In addition, the Association has participated in numerous dialogues and submitted numerous memorandums to various government bodies such as Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara, Economic Planning Unit in Prime Minister’s Department, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Higher Education and others.
Currently, the Association is having ongoing dialogues with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Finance regarding the Budget as well as other issues. Our National Secretary, Mr Lee Teck Meng will be briefing you on some of our current dialogue activities shortly.
The Association also participates extensively in trade exhibitions and overseas trade visits and actively promotes an export culture. Locally, it organizes business matching and networking events such as tonight’s SMIAM Member’s Networking Nite whereby our members, from over 3000 enterprises and companies can come together and network with potential new members and business associates.
To help maintain its SME linkages and keep members informed of the business activities, the Association also publishes the SMI/SME Business Directory in collaboration with Tourism Publication Corporation Sdn Bhd. Those interested to know more about SMI Association can also visit our website at www.smisme.com.
The Association has also, from time to time, released statements to the press on relevant issues pertaining to SMEs, after getting feedback from our members and the SME industry.
Ladies and Gentlemen
SMI Association’s VISION is to transform small and medium industries, enterprises and businesses into the economic powerhouse of the country by 2020. And the way to achieve this vision is to ensure SMEs have a voice to articulate its issues to the right channels.
Our MISSION is to instill and eventually ingrain deeply the concept of “learning organisation” into SMEs and encourage them to be creative and export-oriented.
How are we doing, you may ask?
Ladies and Gentlemen
The fact that SMI Association of Malaysia has constantly been asked by the Government to attend its dialogue sessions, participate as members in its various business development committee and SME councils, and to present papers related to SME issues shows that we have indeed made some headway and impression among government circles.
We have been spoken out on a number of issues, such as the sudden hike in oil prices
in 2008, the effectiveness of the two economic stimulus package amounting to RM67 billion, the difficulty among SMEs in securing loans, the various fiscal measures and incentives, and many more issues. You may ask have we been successful?
I am humbled to say that the government has indeed taken note of our grievances and have acted on most of our recommendations, though not all, nor in their entirety. The SME industry need a united front and a strong voice to engage the government in dialogue so that SMEs can receive sufficient assistance and development funds to help transform SMEs into economic powerhouses of the future.
This is where events such as the SMI Networking Nite come in.
The SMI Networking Nite is an annual event where Association members come together to get to know one another better and to network with each other. We also take this opportunity to meet with invited guests of our SME members as well as our Institutional friends (including our traditional supporters such as the financial institutions, insurance groups, telcos, ICT and logistics players)
It is a time when the Association opens its doors to recruit new members, especially to SMEs which share our vision, mission and objectives. A time to join the SMIAM as an ordinary member or better still, become a committee member and contribute to the development and growth of the various SME committees.
We have a lot on our plate, but we are short of SME volunteers to participate in the various activities. In particular, we need entrepreneurs who have the experience and the necessary expertise in various SME industries to help us identify the inherent weaknesses of the system, provide ideas and solutions to strengthen the industries, and to engage in dialogue with the authorities.
There is a saying: “Many more makes merry” which suggests that the more people and expertise the organisation possessed, the wealthier and richer the organisation will be in terms of the quality and depth of expertise owned.
It is only when the Association has the necessary expertise, experience and support of its members that it can speak out confidently, knowledgeably, and with authority to address the existing problems faced by the SMEs in Malaysia and to offer solutions to the Authorities.
I am told that the SME Association of South Korea has more than a million members who are highly supportive of their association. Thanks to the strong support given by its members, the South Korean SME Association has tremendous influence with the Government and is able to negotiate the best deals and incentives for its SME members.
This is one reason why South Korea is one of the fastest developing economies in the world today, as its SMEs are committed and highly supportive of its association’s leadership. They operate as a single entity, and as a united cohesive force, are able to tackle any challenges and adversities that is being thrown at them. They are truly the engines of growth for South Korea.
Ladies and Gentlemen
This is where the SMIAM aspires to be. But we cannot achieve our dreams and aspirations to be an economic powerhouse by 2020 without the constant participation and strong support of our SMEs.
Currently, SMEs account for 99,2% or 548,267 of total businesses registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia. They employ 5.6 million or 56% of the total workforce of the country and contribute 32% of GDP and 19% of total exports.
By 2010, the government envisage that SMEs should employ 6.5 million of the country’s workforce and contribute some 37% of GDP and 22% of total exports. The Government want SMEs to be a force to be reckoned with in the Malaysian economy.
SMIAM feels such a target is achievable as the Government is continuosly putting in place the necessary mechanism and incentives to support and promote the development of SMEs in the country.
SMIAM needs the support of all SMEs if it is to become a strong voice and advocate for SME interests and aspirations. Your support counts and every new member that joins will swell the membership list and enable the Association to become strong and influential.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Before I conclude, I would like to once again express my sincere appreciation for your presence here this evening and for listening patiently to my speech. Once again, our heartfelt apporeciation to YB Dato Liew Vui Keong, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister Department for the kind attendace and support.
Let’s enjoy the evening together. Loosen your (neck) ties and let your hair down as you enjoy the food, mingle and mix, meet new friends, renew acquaintances, friendship and network for potential business for the future.
Let’s enjoy each other’s company.
Thank you.
