Enterprise Explores

In January 2019, the Malaysian government launched the Professional Training and Education for Growing Entrepreneurs (PROTÉGÉ) programme, an initiative under the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (KUSKOP) that’s dedicated to providing professional training and education for growing entrepreneurs.In the span of a year, the participation in the Protege program witnessed an increase of approximately 12,000 individuals from 2023 to 2024. This significant growth brings the programme one step closer to achieving its target participation rate, currently standing at 84%.In the ever-evolving landscape of modern business, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro SMEs face a unique set of challenges and opportunities. The key to navigating this complex environment lies in their ability to continuously learn and adapt. This is where the significance of training and development programmes comes into sharp focus. These programmes are not just beneficial but essential for SMEs, providing the tools and knowledge required to stay competitive and achieve sustainable growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia was ranked 33rd globally and the ninth in the APAC region in the International Institute for Management Development’s recently announced World Digital Competitiveness Ranking (WDCR). Enterprise explores the system and methodology behind the rankings, the importance of digital competitiveness, and how Malaysia can improve its digital competitiveness with Professor Arturo Bris, Director of IMD’s World Competitiveness Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enterprise Explores 2023’s lagging IPO performance globally and factors business leaders should keep in mind when planning their IPO strategies this year with Kevin Chew, Senior Executive Director with the Strategy and Transactions team at Ernst & Young (EY).We dive into the details and insights in EY’s recent Global IPO Trends 2023 report, including primary reasons behind the slower year for IPOs in 2023, the IPO outlook for 2024, the potential implications of the backlog of IPOs in growth sectors, and key factors companies keep in mind when planning their IPO strategies this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, Enterprise explores the realm of VCs after what seemed to be a chaotic year of funding in 2023. While there is plenty of available capital here, we take a look at what strategies should go into venture investing and what we can expect to see in 2024 with Kevin Brockland, Founder & Managing Partner at Indelible Ventures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Enterprise Explores Thailand's tourism edge and how the biggest tourist destination in the region continues to stand out in an increasing competitive field. We’ll get into how it stacks up against Malaysia and the rest of the region, what we can learn from our neighbour up north to improve our tourism efforts and policies here in Malaysia. We discuss this with travel and tourism analyst Gary Bowerman, Director of travel and tourism research firm Check In Asia and Nigel Wong, President, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) - the national umbrella representative body for the entire travel industry in the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 2nd January 2024, Malaysia’ Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim launched the Pangkalan Data Utama or the Centralised Database Hub (PADU), a centralised system that will house comprehensive information of all citizens that can be accessed across all government agencies.Within hours of its launch, users have reported several issues, from a faulty registration process to concerns over cybersecurity flaws. Besides that, a post on 'X' also said that only the IC number is needed to change the PADU login password. For a system that houses such confidential information, it leaves many wondering- what were the security measures taken in the efforts of protecting these data? Is our data really in safe hands?Today on Enterprise Explores, we speak to CF Fong, the Executive Chairman of LGMS Berhad and Sayful Mohammad, Innovation Incubator and Marketing Coordinator who’s a subject matter expert to discuss why it is important to take proactive measures in cybersecurity and other crucial factors before launching a digital product.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In November 2023, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department announced that the sales tax on low value goods (LVG) will be effective from 1 January 2024. The sales tax rate of 10% will be applicable on all low value goods, regardless of the Harmonized System (HS) code of the product.The sellers of low value goods need to configure their systems to be able to identify goods which fall within the definition of low value goods upon sale, and need to discuss and align with their importers or customs agents to confirm the correct documentation and accurate disclosure are made during importation. For online marketplaces, both the seller and online marketplace operator need to agree on who should bear the sales tax on LVG.Sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Fret not. This podcast will help us decipher and understand what the tax is, and the pros and cons for various parties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim's new cabinet and key priorities, lessons from the PADU incident, ministers to watch, and upcoming policy meetings and initiatives.

2024 promises to be a transformative period for entrepreneurs and startups, particularly with the government announcing key initiatives and focus areas for the ecosystem. According to Startup Genome’s 2023 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, the top three ecosystems have maintained their positions from 2020, with Silicon Valley remaining at the top, followed by New York City and London tied at #2. For the first time, Singapore has entered the top 10, moving up by 10 places to #8 from #18 in the GSER 2022, the biggest improvement in the rankings.Now, where does that leave Malaysia ? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zhong Yang Chan and Hann Liew discuss the ups and downs of the crypto industry, the emergence of ETF conversations, and big financial institutions' involvement. They explore Malaysia's role in the crypto landscape and the potential for tokenizing real assets on the blockchain.