MDEC LAUNCHES #DIGITALVSCOVID CAMPAIGN WITH LOCAL TECH COMPANIES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 – Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), has launched a campaign, #DigitalvsCovid, marshalling local tech companies to extend digital solutions and services to affected domestic businesses and consumers.

MDEC said it received encouraging response particularly from its Global Acceleration and Innovation Network (GAIN) companies consisting of prolific tech startups and scaleups that are recognised for their unique tech innovations and sizeable business footprint, locally and abroad.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Surina Shukri said while large corporations have contingency plans to minimise the impact of COVID-19, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises may not be able to endure the impact from the global pandemic, and one way forward is through automation and digitalisation.

“We are proud to announce that 80 tech companies are waiting to render their services and MDEC urges entrepreneurs from all industries to leverage on these offerings,” she said in a statement today.

She appreciated that it only took one attempt to rally Malaysian tech companies to ‘pay it forward’ in these trying times.

According to her, numerous tech companies within as well as beyond the GAIN companies have expressed their interest to offer their services on a pro bono basis, either through attractive discounts or strategic collaborations.

“Many SMEs are experiencing interrupted supply-chain movement, delays in business processes that require paperwork, limited tools to engage their stakeholders, constraints in conducting non-cash transactions, as well as challenges in managing a high-volume workforce.

“Nonetheless, we are confident that our GAIN companies can offer relief to SMEs by resolving some of these difficulties,” she said.

Surina said SMEs were also concerned about the well-being of their employees and to this end, companies have taken preventive health and safety measures against COVID-19, including to adequately equip their employees with information on the pandemic.

“Additionally, employers are actively seeking the provision of workforce compensation protection and other benefits for their employees,” she noted.

The CEO said MDEC’s Global Growth Acceleration division would continue to explore more industry-relevant business continuity solutions via digital technologies and drive participation and growth in the digital economy.

The comprehensive list of tech solutions and services for SMEs is accessible at https://mdec.my/home/c19techrelief/ and will be continually updated as more tech companies come forward to offer their assistance.

-- BERNAMA