Alibaba has launched its Pandemic Recovery Support Program with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Malaysia Digital Economy Cooperation (MDEC), to help more Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) build their cross-border e-commerce capabilities as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to be felt.
Alibaba Pandemic Recovery Support Program
With an aim to equip up to 1,000 SMEs by the end of 2021 with hands-on e-commerce operations skills, the Program will provide participants with complimentary access to the Alibaba.com Seller Training E-Course (ASTE) to fast-track their onboarding process.
Designed for suppliers new to the Alibaba.com platform, ASTE is an intensive two-day online training program that offers 12 hours of online classroom sessions in four modules as well as guidance from experts and experienced online sellers.
In addition to the complimentary ASTE training, which is worth USD2,000 (approximately RM8,300) and originally only open to Alibaba.com’s paying members, Alibaba.com will offer further benefits to participating SMEs upon completion of the Program. These include discounts on membership and onboarding service packages, up to USD500 keyword advertising credit and a free Value-Added Services (VAS) voucher worth USD600 (approximately RM2,080 and RM2,500 respectively).
“Alibaba.com is firm in our commitment to making it easy for companies in Malaysia to do business anywhere. With the global B2B e-commerce market valued at USD23.9 trillion and growing, we want to help local SMEs get prepared for the shift of global trade towards e-commerce and emerge stronger from the pandemic. Thankfully, Malaysian businesses are well placed to leverage cross-border opportunities given the established infrastructure available here, including the very first Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) Hub outside of China.”
“ASTE aims to help lower the barrier for SMEs to get online. We have also been working with our local channel partners to provide support to our sellers through hands-on assistance, knowledge-sharing webinars and expert insights. Together with MATRADE and MDEC, I am confident that the Program will help SMEs better futureproof themselves and expand their business overseas,”
Stephen Kuo, Head of Asia Pacific, Alibaba.com
“With Malaysia’s status as a globally competitive trading nation, we are committed in helping Malaysian SMEs to make full use of the exports facilitations available on cross border eCommerce. To further facilitate their cross border e-commerce onboarding process, SMEs can tap into the RM5,000 under the eTRADE 2.0. Onboarding Scheme. Additionally, companies that are already in the e-commerce space can leverage on the Digital Marketing & Training (DMT) Scheme of up to RM20,000 to further enhance their visibility and branding in cross-border e-commerce.” En. Abu Bakar Yusof, Deputy CEO, MATRADE
“We welcome this collaboration between Alibaba.com, MDEC and MATRADE. Malaysian companies must seize these export opportunities due to the shift in consumer’s buying behaviour worldwide. Through this effort, local businesses will be further empowered to increase their capabilities as well as expanding market access to enable them to obtain new sources of revenues, reflecting the Government’s intent under the PEMULIH economic recovery programme as well as achieving the goals of MyDIGITAL.” Mahadhir Aziz, Chief Executive Officer, MDEC
The Alibaba.com Pandemic Recovery Support Program is open to Malaysian SMEs across multiple industries – from food & beverage and agriculture to timber and consumer electronics.
Training under the Program will commence in October 2021 and continue through to December 2021. An e-certificate of completion will be awarded to participants who complete all the training modules.
Interested SMEs can register for Open Day sessions on 7th or 13th October 2021 and the Program here.
