Matrade enhances eTrade 2.0 guidelines to boost exports

• Micro SMEs offered with two schemes worth up to US$4,500 
• Over 3000 MSMEs have generated US$68 mil worth of export

Matrade has enhanced guidelines for its eTRADE Programme for Malaysian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) effective July 1.

In a statement, the agency said this enhancement is carried out with the objective of encouraging more MSMEs to take part in the programme that will accelerate the growth of exports through having presence in cross border e-commerce marketplaces.

As businesses in international trade and exports continue their upward stride in their path of recovery post-Covid, it said e-commerce plays an increasingly important role in sustaining business activities including export.

This initiative by Matrade to boost exports through cross border e-commerce marketplaces started with the introduction of eTrade Programme under the 11th Malaysia Plan from 2017 to 2020 where a total of 3,358 MSMEs benefited with more than US$68 million (RM300 million) worth of export revenue generated.

To continue facilitating Malaysian MSMEs in this field, Matrade said it has continued with the eTRADE Programme 2.0 under the 12MP starting from March 2021. 

Under the programme, Malaysian MSMEs are offered with two schemes of export facilitation initiatives; onboarding scheme worth US$1,100 (RM5,000) and digital marketing and training scheme worth US$4,500 (RM20,000) for each company.

[RM1 = US$0.239]

Through the onboarding scheme, qualified Malaysian MSMEs 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 MSMEs are also allowed to join multiple platforms under this scheme, allowing them to have more options in choosing the e-commerce platforms that best suit their needs and target markets.

For the digital marketing scheme, qualified MSMEs 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 eCommerce related training programmes they choose to attend.

Abu Bakar Yusof, deputy chief executive officer for exporters development) at Matrade, said to better streamline the agency’s facilitation and to encourage more MSMEs to benefit from the programme, Matrade has enhanced the guideline for eTRADE Programm 2.0, effective 1 July 2022. 

“Under the revised guideline, the qualification criteria have been updated for both schemes, taking into account the need for MSMEs to diversify its export markets and upscale its exports through presence in various cross border e- commerce marketplaces”, he added.

Click here for more information on how to get your business online globally through eTRADE Programme 2.0