Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Ant International have formalized an expanded partnership through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aiming to accelerate the digital transformation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Malaysia by providing access to comprehensive digitalization solutions.
Under the new MoU, Ant International will support local MSMEs by leveraging EPOS, its Antom-powered all-in-one SME transformation platform. This platform offers an integrated suite of digitalization solutions designed to assist businesses in adopting modern technologies. MDEC will complement this effort by actively engaging the MSME community, industry associations, and various ecosystem partners to promote widespread digital adoption throughout the country. This initiative builds upon MDEC’s existing collaboration with Ant International, which includes supporting local talent and innovation development through Ant International’s global digital business center in Kuala Lumpur under the Business Digitalisation Initiative (BDI).
MSMEs are integral to Malaysia’s economy, constituting 97% of all business establishments. However, many encounter hurdles in adopting digital tools, such as limited access, cost constraints, and a lack of technical expertise. Anuar Fariz Fadzil, CEO of MDEC, emphasized the critical role of digital transformation. “Digitalisation has become a fundamental requirement for MSMEs to stay competitive and resilient,” he stated. “Our deepened collaboration with Ant International directly supports Malaysia’s journey towards an AI Nation, ensuring that even the smallest enterprises can access modern, AI-enabled tools. By synergising global technology capabilities with Malaysia’s national priorities, we are empowering MSMEs to transform how they operate, strengthen their business foundations, and participate fully in the opportunities of the digital economy.”
The collaboration is specifically designed to address these gaps. Through EPOS, Ant International will integrate its ecosystem of digital solutions and advanced AI technologies into a single platform. This platform will unify payments, digital banking solutions, and growth tools specifically tailored for MSMEs. Merchants will gain access to user-friendly and affordable digital solutions, including payment processing, multi-channel online store deployment, operations management, and AI-powered productivity tools, which can be accessed rapidly. These tools are intended to provide valuable business insights, enabling MSMEs to optimize operations, make data-driven decisions, and expand their presence across various online channels.
Retail and F&B merchants are anticipated to benefit significantly from this initiative. These sectors are currently navigating challenges such as rising labor costs, workforce shortages, and increasing customer expectations for seamless, digitally enhanced experiences. Ian Cheong, CEO of EPOS, commented on the market needs: “Malaysian MSMEs are ambitious, resilient, and eager to grow, but they need the right tools to compete in an increasingly digital economy. MDEC has made great strides in supporting MSME digitalisation, and through EPOS, we can advance this national strategy even further. By making advanced technology accessible within minutes, so that even the smallest business can operate smarter, serve customers better, and scale with confidence, we can ensure no MSME is left behind.”
As the agency tasked with guiding Malaysia’s transition to an innovation-led digital economy, MDEC will lead initiatives to connect local communities, industry partners, and other ecosystem participants. These efforts aim to collectively reach SMEs across various sectors. Planned activities include workshops and training sessions to enhance awareness and facilitate access to emerging technologies like AI, co-developed programs to engage SMEs and support their adoption of digital solutions, and strategic alignment of the partnership with MDEC’s broader national digitalization strategies and ongoing initiatives.
