Its deputy minister, Datuk Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli, officiated the inaugural event of the programme themed ‘Accelerating Growth via Innovation and Technology’, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.
Dr Mohd Hatta said the existing Vendor Development Programme was aimed at strengthening the capabilities of local vendors to supply parts and components, as well as services, to the overall supply chain of government-linked companies, multinational corporations and large corporations in Malaysia. ‘Thus far, VDP has successfully created 18 National Champions, four Regional Champions and one Global Champion company.
‘MED is committed to the development and progress of local vendors. Together with our agencies, we will continue to support vendors in all aspects, including capacity-building and training, financing, as well as adopting digitalisation.’ ‘This is part and parcel of MED’s policy alignment process. We are working with the Finance Ministry and stakeholders, including the Defence Ministry, to put in place a Carve-Out Policy for SMEs vis-a-vis the government’s procurement. The current SMEs involvement is at 35 per cent out of the targeted 50 per cent.’