Call for SME Masterplan custodian
NSDC
says single agency should ensure implementation and track progress of the plan
PETALING JAYA: The
National SME Development Council (NSDC) has called for a single agency to be
the custodian of the SME Masterplan.
The NSDC said the agency
should be accountable for ensuring the implementation of the plan and tracking
the progress of the master plan's objectives.
“The role of SME Corp Malaysia has to be further strengthened,
empowered and elevated to take on the lead role to implement the master plan,”
it said, noting that “this may require some organisational restructuring and
changes to the co-ordination mechanism to allow greater empowerment for the
agency to function effectively in executing the plan.”
NSDC said SME Corp would
need to be given sufficient authority and resources and have a more active role
in the budgetary decision on SME development. Among the measures SME Corp
should take is reviewing existing programmes with the ministries and agencies
to rationalise those that overlap and remove those that have no significant
impact.
It said SME Corp had to
put in place a world-class monitoring and evaluation system where “evaluations
would require accurate and credible firm level data which entails working
together with the ministries and agencies to collate the necessary information
from programme recipients”.
The council said SME Corp
would be engaging the private sector to participate in the master plan,
especially in the six high impact programmes through public-private
partnerships.
“The role of industry associations,
chambers and non-governmental organisations will be further enhanced in
assisting in reaching out the programmes to more SMEs in the country, and in
capacity building at the district, state and national levels,” it said.
A risk mitigation plan was among
NSDC's recommendation, too, as the global economy will likely remain uncertain
with volatility in the financial markets posing external risks to Malaysia's
growth momentum.
As for internal risks, the council
said that comprised policy changes on the macroeconomic front and issues
associated with the implementation and operation processes of the master plan
itself.
“This may include risks from
resource constraints due to escalation in costs, delays in execution, lack of
authority of the coordination agency in driving the policies and programmes,
and challenges faced in coordination and alignment of the policies and
programmes,” it said.
Source : The Star
Date : 16 July 2012
afternoon
highlight (16/07/12/124/598)
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