eBay, Matrade, MDEC to deliver e-commerce training for SMEs

• The first in a series of training workshops will be held in KL on April 13
• Let’s eBay will travel to Penang and Johor in the coming months

EBAY, Matrade and MDEC are joining forces to deliver training to small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking new and global sales channels in the fast-growing e-commerce sector.

The first in a series of training workshops, titled “Let’s eBay”, will be held at The Grounds KL, Mahsa Avenue, Block B Jalan Ilmu (off Jalan Universiti), Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, April 13.

Following Kuala Lumpur, Let’s eBay will travel to Penang and Johor in the coming months.

A combination of a strengthening local manufacturing sector and favourable exchange rates has enabled strong growth in e-commerce exports from Malaysia to the rest of the world.

Today, a growing number of entrepreneurial Malaysians are seizing this opportunity by selling their products directly to consumers all around the world on eBay.

According to eBay head of Southeast Asia Seller Growth Wong Mei Inn, “Malaysia’s cross border trade (CBT) exports are still at a relatively nascent stage and there is huge opportunity for more small businesses to join the ranks of eBay sellers. By listing their products on eBay’s global marketplace, Malaysian businesses can reach 179 million active buyers all around the world.”

“Let’s eBay has been designed for the small business or entrepreneur who has little or no ecommerce experience but wants to learn directly from the source,” said Wong.

“e-Commerce has been recognised as one of the key enablers to accelerate revenue growth for the Malaysian economy, under the Digital Malaysia Initiative,” said Matrade CEO Wan Latiff Wan Musa.

“The government through relevant Ministries and agencies, together with the private sector are ramping up efforts to get Malaysian companies, especially the MSMEs (Micro Small & Medium Enterprises) to move towards digitalisation.”

Welcoming this initiative, Song Hock Koon, director of e-commerce, MDEC, commented: “As a trading nation, Malaysia is now moving up the value chain and trading in ideas, innovation and new technologies in a spirit of collaboration to build our future. 

“Not only is growing Malaysia's e-commerce sector one of these fundamental building blocks to our development as a digital nation, but it is exciting that every Malaysian can contribute to this growth through e-commerce."

Approximately 98.5% of business establishments are made up of small medium enterprises (SMEs) and their contribution make up 17.3% of the country’s exports.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the digital economy in 2017 contributes 18.2% to Malaysia’s GDP, with the potential to rise to 20% of GDP by 2020.

Let’s eBay will be a full day workshop featuring case studies, advice on getting started, and introductions to payments and logistics service providers to help small businesses begin their global ecommerce journey.

Entrance is free. However, places are limited. Those interested must register via Eventbrite.sg. A confirmation notice will be sent to all successfully registered attendees.