Not Enough SMEs Using Smidec Grants For Training Workers

By DAVID TAN

PENANG: Not enough small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are utilising grants from Small and Medium Industries Development Corp (Smidec) to develop their human resources. 

Chief executive officer Datuk Hafsah Hashim said she was not happy with the attitude of SMEs towards training their human resources, adding that they should view investment in training as long-term and not as cost incurred. 

“With proper documentation to prove that they are SMEs, they can send their workers to any of our affiliated 23 skill training centres in the country to upgrade their skills and receive a 50% discount on the fees. 

“Smidec subsidises the training programmes and about RM40mil has been allocated under the Ninth Malaysian Plan for this purpose. 

“There are about 518,000 SMEs in the country,” Hafsah said after launching the An Afternoon at the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC): Establishing Business Networks programme on Tuesday. 

“Technology becomes outdated very fast. If the local SMEs do not upgrade the skills of their workforce, they would find it very hard to go global to compete,” she added. 

About 98 SMEs turned up at the PSDC to attend briefings by PSDC, Smidec and CIMB Bank. 

Meanwhile, PSDC consultancy and SME development manager Poh Heem Heem said many SMEs were still under the impression that the PSDC was set up only to provide services to multinational corporations or large corporations. 

“Nothing can be further from the truth, as PSDC’s objective is to help SMEs grow and become global players,” Hafsah added.

Sources:

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/2/business/20167857&sec=business