Matrade announces second eTrade programme to assist Malaysian SMEs

• Added features to include digital marketing activities, e-commerce training
• Programme is in line with Thrust 2 of MyDigital

THE Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has launched its enhanced eTRADE export facilitation initiative dubbed eTRADE Programme 2.0. Announced during its virtual eTRADE Consultation Day session, the improved programme is aimed at assisting Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) accelerate exports and sustain global presence.

The added features of the programme now include digital marketing activities and e-commerce-related trainings.

“With the ever increasing size of global e-commerce market and despite the current travel restriction, there is no better time for Malaysian SMEs to capitalise on e-commerce platforms to sustain and further accelerate their exports”, said Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, chief executive officer of Matrade, in a statement.

Under the eTRADE Programme 2.0, he said Malaysian SMEs will be offered two schemes of export facilitation initiatives – an "Onboarding Scheme" worth US$1,236.95 (RM5,000), and a "Digital Marketing & Training (DMT) Scheme" worth US$4,947.81 (RM20,000) for each company respectively.  

[RM1 = US$0.247]

Through the Onboarding Scheme, qualified Malaysian SMEs will be eligible to utilise up to RM5,000 per company in the form of reimbursement for their expenses incurred in onboarding cross-border e-commerce platforms of their choice.

The SMEs are also allowed to join multiple platforms under this scheme, allowing them to have more options to choose the e-commerce platforms that best suit their needs and target markets.

For the DMT Scheme, qualified SMEs will be able to receive up to RM20,000 per company in reimbursement for their expenses in conducting digital marketing activities to promote their products overseas, and for e-commerce related training programmes they choose to attend.

Matrade said these activities covered under both schemes underline the corporation’s commitment to “realise the aspirations of the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital), as eTRADE 2.0 is in line with Thrust 2: Boost Economic Competitiveness through Digitalisation.”

Malaysian SMEs will be able to apply for the programme beginning 1 March 2021. For more information, visit here.