ICSMEE Malaysia Sarawak Chapter launched at Curtin Malaysia

Miri – 30 November 2017 – Members of the business community in Miri, many representing small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), witnessed the launching of the International Council for SME and Entrepreneurship Malaysia (ICSMEE Malaysia) Sarawak Chapter at Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) on Monday.

The ICSMEE Sarawak Chapter is the local affiliate of ICSMEE Malaysia, which is chaired by Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Mamat, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). ICSMEE Malaysia itself is affiliated to the International Council for Small Business (ICSB).

The Sarawak Chapter is being hosted by Curtin Malaysia and is dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurial knowledge and entrepreneurship development by bringing together entrepreneurs, educators, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners to share knowledge and expertise.

It also aims to encourage people, government, institutions and large organisations to play a leading role in the development of entrepreneurship and SMEs; and driving social innovations and spearheading entrepreneurship growth and matchmaking between industry players and the research community through the ICSMEE’s and ICSB’s network of partners.

Officiating the launch organised by the university’s Faculty of Business was ICSMEE Malaysia President Dr. Zakaria Taib.

Those attending included representatives of the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce & Industry Miri, Women Entrepreneurs and Professional Association Miri, Miri Entrepreneur Incubator Club, Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak Miri, Persatuan Usahawan Anak Sarawak and Miri City Council.

Also present were representatives of local SMEs Awan Inspirasi, Bright Star Focus Sdn. Bhd., Gara International Sdn. Bhd., J.L. Foo Advocates, Waris & Co. and Semariang Enterprise.

According to Dean of the Faculty of Business, Associate Professor Pauline Ho, the establishment of the Sarawak chapter provides the critical link between the faculty and its students with businesses in the state through the creation and distribution of new knowledge.

“This will be done through training, education, research and open exchanges of ideas between professions and across national and cultural borders. We invite members of the local business community to join us in these endeavours for the advancement of entrepreneurial knowledge and entrepreneurship development,” she said.

The event included three public talks by industry experts. The first was entitled ‘5 Insider Tips from Passion to Profit’ by ICSMEE Malaysia Vice President Peter Ong, followed by ‘Financing Options for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ by Kelvin Chong of Maybank Berhad and ‘Vital Role of UniPreneur Ecosystem in Universities’ by business coach, mentor and entrepreneur Anuar Shariff.

ICSMEE Malaysia is an independent organisation whose main objective is to advance the understanding of entrepreneurship and improve the competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. It also aspires to add value to the Malaysian entrepreneurship ecosystem by leveraging on the International Council for Small Business worldwide network and influence in developed and developing countries.

ICSMEE Malaysia President Dr. Zakaria Taib and Dean of Faculty of Business Associate Professor Pauline Ho exchanging chapter launch documents.

ICSMEE Malaysia Vice President Peter Ong delivering talk entitled ‘5 Insider Tips from Passion to Profit’.

Kelvin Chong of Maybank Berhad talks about ‘Financing Options for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’.