KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — The Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta) has called on the government to reopen the business events sector as soon as possible to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) recover.
The association’s policy and government relations chairman Datuk William Ng said the prolonged lockdown has resulted in most SMEs running out of cash, with many having retrenched their employees.
Operational restrictions have also resulted in many global clients resorting to dropping Malaysian suppliers in favour of vendors from other markets, he added.
“In order for our SMEs to rapidly get back into the global supply chain and secure raw materials and equipment, we need trade exhibitions and business conferences to reconvene,” he said in a statement today.“Internet sourcing is not as effective as physical trade shows in sourcing for new clients and vendors.”
Samenta hopes the government will take the call seriously as everyone needs to take part and work harder to secure the lost ground.
“Please give us the right tools and channels to do so. The business events sector is not only important to the thousands of SMEs in that industry, but also acts as a catalyst and multiplier of the economy,” he added.
Samenta is joining the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), Business Events Council of Malaysia (BECM), and the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Tourism Ministry, which have all called for a quick reopening of the business events sector.
— Bernama
