Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology firm of Alibaba Group, has in partnership with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), announced the launch of the SME Digitalization Program — an initiative designed to accelerate the digital transformation journey of Malaysia’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Alibaba Cloud said in a statement on Monday that developed in support of MDEC’s Business Digitalization Initiative (BDI), the program aims to empower Malaysia’s SMEs to harness the full potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, technologies that underpin productivity, innovation, and global competitiveness.
Recognizing that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are vital to Malaysia’s socioeconomic development and central to achieving the 2030 gross domestic product (GDP) growth targets outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), this initiative addresses a critical national priority.
Built around four key pillars of digital transformation; awareness, upskilling, adoption, and innovation, the program is designed to accelerate digital adoption, strengthen the SME ecosystem, and foster sustainable, innovation-led growth for local businesses.
“By focusing on SMEs, this program ensures that a broad segment of Malaysia’s business ecosystem can harness the transformative potential of AI and cloud technologies,
“Leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s advanced technologies in AI and cloud computing, we are excited to partner with MDEC to empower Malaysian businesses to innovate, scale, and thrive in the digital economy—driving sustainable growth and strengthen competitiveness at scale,” said Feifei Li, President of International Business and SVP of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group.
Anuar Fariz Fadzil, Chief Executive Officer of MDEC, added that Malaysia’s SMEs are an integral part of the firm’s aspiration to become an AI- nation by 2030.
According to him, the ability to adopt advanced digital tools, particularly AI and cloud technologies, is critical to strengthening their competitive edge.
“Through this strategic public-private collaboration with Alibaba Cloud, we aim to bridge the digital divide and uplift our SMEs,
“By equipping businesses with accessible and impactful digital solutions, we are accelerating nationwide digital adoption and establishing the foundations of a resilient innovation-led economy,” he added.
The SME Digitalization Program will roll out a series of targeted initiatives including educational campaigns, interactive workshops, webinar series, and ready-to-use solution kits, all designed to support SMEs at every stage of their business journey and empower them to turn challenges into growth.
With practical upskilling and real-world application at its core, the initiative empowers SME to become a digitally capable force that drives Malaysia’s national digital transformation goals under the Malaysia Digital (MD) initiative.
This collaboration reinforces Alibaba Cloud’s commitment to advancing Malaysia’s digital economy by empowering local businesses with secure, scalable, and accessible technologies.
Through this program Alibaba Cloud and MDEC are bridging capability gaps, nurturing innovation, and contributing to a robust, inclusive and resilient digital ecosystem across the nation, said the statement.