Johor Entrepreneurs Urged To Grab Global Supply Chain Opportunities Via JS-SEZ
JOHOR BAHRU, May 12 (Bernama) -- Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Johor are urged to take advantage of development and seize opportunities through the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) as a key platform to penetrate the global supply chain.
Malaysian Malay Chamber of Commerce (DPMM) Johor head Yazid Khalid said the presence of technology giants such as NVIDIA and Microsoft in the state indirectly brings the international market ecosystem directly to the doorsteps of local entrepreneurs.
“Ten to 15 years ago, we often talk about how entrepreneurs want to penetrate the global market. However, now, under the leadership of Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the global market itself has been brought into Johor through the JS-SEZ initiative. This has made Johor a strong regional investment destination.
“Opportunities are now easier because the cost for local entrepreneurs to penetrate the global market can be minimised. Johor entrepreneurs can now collaborate with multinational companies and become part of the global supply chain,” he told Bernama Radio for the Johor Tersohor segment today.
According to Yazid, to face the economic spillover, digitalisation is no longer an option but a mandatory prerequisite for entrepreneurs to remain relevant and competitive.
He outlined three levels of digital readiness that need to be mastered, namely awareness of the use of basic platforms, automation of business processes, and expansion of market access through e-commerce.
“The level of awareness has seen micro-entrepreneurs begin to take advantage of social media and e-wallets, while SME groups need to shift to automation such as cloud accounting and stock management systems to ensure their operations are more efficient.
“However, the main challenges are still the cost of implementing technology and the need for technical skills that need to be constantly updated through continuous training,” he said.
Yazid said DPMM Johor is committed to acting as a facilitator through business networking initiatives, policy advocacy and capacity training to help entrepreneurs penetrate larger markets.
DPMM's main focus at this time, he said, is to ensure that entrepreneurs in Johor are not just observers, but rather become key players in the JS-SEZ ecosystem.
“Our hope is to see Johor entrepreneurs not just survive, but be able to compete internationally in line with the aspiration of Maju Johor 2030,” he said.
-- BERNAMA