Pikom launches e-commerce chapter, targets 2,000 new members

• The new chapter will work closely with the National E-Comerce Council (NECC) and Malaysian Digital Economy Corp (MDEC)​
• New chapter led by e-commerce veteran Ganesh Kumar Bangah

^{From left: Asocio secretary general David Chang, Asocio chairman David Wong, Pikom chairman Chin Chee Seong, director of e-commerce enablement Wee Huay Neo and deputy Pikom chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah}  

THE National ICT Association of Malaysia, or PIKOM, announced the formation of the new E-Commerce Chapter yesterday. With the new chapter, dubbed E-Commerce Malaysia, the association will be able to play a bigger role in growing the country's e-commerce ecosystem -- so that it can be more competitive globally. 

The new chapter will complement Pikom's existing chapters such as Outsourcing Malaysia, Angels Chapter and CIO Chapter.

"With this new chapter, Pikom will be the voice of the e-commerce industry in Malaysia. The chapter will also be the point of contact with the government on e-commerce related matters andplay a role in increasing the awareness on the ease of online shopping," said Pikom chairman Chin Chee Seong in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

The new e-commerce chapter will be led by industry veteran and Pikom deputy chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah. 

The new chapter, just like Outsourcing Malaysia, will have its own budget and dedicated team to help spur the growth of the country's e-commerce industry.  Membership for this chapter will comprice e-commerce merchants, market places, payment providers, logistics and fulfillment players.

"The new chapter will work closely with the National E-Comerce Council (NECC) and Malaysian Digital Economy Corp (MDEC). The initiatives and programmes of the chapter will be aligned closely with the pillars of the National E-Commerce Roadmap," said Chin.

Meanwhile, Ganesh, who is also the founder of MOL Global, is targeting to draw an additional 2,000 local e-commerce players to join the chapter by end of this year. 

Currently, there are about 1,000 Pikom members joining the new chapter.

"We are confident of achieving our membership target, as the industry is booming in Malaysia and the entire South East Asian," said Ganesh during the media briefing.

New Asocio e-commerce Alliance platform 

The formation of the new chapter will also complement the newly-launched Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (Asocio) e-commerce Alliance platform and will help grow cross border e-commerce trade.

So far, there are 15 e-commerce players from five countries which have agreed to be part of the alliance. 
These companies include: Lelong, Gemfive, Logon, SiteGiant, Web2Ship, iPay88, ManagePay and Fashion Valet from Malaysia; Clozette and Shopback from Singapore; Tarad and Buzzebees from Thailand; Matahari Mall from Indonesia, Peacesoft from Vietnam and 28Mall.com from Hong Kong.

The Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) is a grouping of ICT industry associations representing economies in the Asia and Oceania region. The association's new chairman is fellow Pikom member David Wong Nan Fay.

It was established in 1984 with the objective to promote, encourage and foster relationships and trade between its members, and to develop the computing    industry in the region.

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