The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Ant International are strengthening their partnership to accelerate the digital transformation of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide.
In a newly established memorandum of understanding (MoU), Ant International will empower local MSMEs through EPOS, the all-in-one SME transformation platform of Ant International’s Antom, offering a comprehensive suite of digitalization solutions, the duo said in a statement on Tuesday.
MDEC will support the program by engaging the MSME community, industry associations, and ecosystem partners to drive broad-based digital adoption across the country.
This builds on MDEC’s ongoing collaboration with Ant International to support local talent and innovation development through its global digital business center in Kuala Lumpur under the Business Digitalization Initiative (BDI).
“Digitalization has become a fundamental requirement for MSMEs to stay competitive and resilient. 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,” said Anuar Fariz Fadzil, Chief Executive Officer of MDEC.
It is noted that MSMEs represent the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, accounting for 97 percent of all business establishments.
Yet many still face challenges in adopting digital tools due to limited access, cost barriers, and lack of technical knowledge.
Thus, this collaboration is designed to bridge those gaps.
Through EPOS, Ant International will unify its ecosystem of digital solutions and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, into a single platform that integrates payments, digital banking solutions, and growth tools tailored for MSMEs.
With EPOS, MSMEs will gain access to simple, affordable, and powerful digital solutions—including payments, multi-channel online store deployment, operations management, and AI-powered productivity tools—all accessible within minutes.
Merchants can also unlock valuable business insights that enables them to run operations more efficiently, make data-driven decisions, and expand their reach across online channels.
Retail and food and beverage (F&B) merchants stand to gain significantly.
These sectors continue to face rising labor costs, manpower constraints, and increasing customer expectations for seamless, digitally enhanced experiences.
As consumer behavior shifts toward mobile-first engagement, digitalization is no longer optional, but it is essential for sustained competitiveness and growth.
“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 digitalization, 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,” said Ian Cheong, Chief Executive Officer of EPOS.
As the agency leading Malaysia’s transformation towards an innovation-led digital economy, MDEC said it will spearhead initiatives to connect local communities, industry partners and ecosystem players, enabling them to collectively reach SMEs across diverse sectors.
These initiatives will include workshops and training sessions to raise awareness and facilitate access to new technologies such as AI, co-developed programs to engage SMEs and support them in adopting digital solutions, and strategic alignment of the partnership with MDEC’s broader national digitalization strategies and ongoing initiatives.
MDEC aims to push for 25.5 percent digital economy contribution to Malaysia’s GDP by end-2025