small and medium thoughts

Just how many SMEs are there in Malaysia?

Just how many SME’s are there in Malaysia? It depends on where you look:

800,000 – Datuk Donald Lim, Deputy Information Minister, Dec 2005
349,617 –Department of Statistics Census, 2005 (Baseline Census of Establishments & Enterprises)
690,000 – Oracle, 2003
625,600 – DBS Bank report, 2005

Whatever the actual number, there are certainly a LOT and that is why the government has decided to pay so much attention to them.

The 2005 Baseline Census on Establishments and Enterprises was undertaken in 2005 by the Department of Statistics (which is now officially, LAST YEAR!) with the objective of collecting the following information:

- Main activity of the establishment and ownership structure
- Income from sales of goods and services
- Purchase of goods, materials, and industrial services
- Opening and closing stock position
- Value of assets and liabilities
- Sources of financing and access to credit
- Access to technology, research and development and accreditation
- Marketing and promotion
- Characteristics of employment & salaries and wages

I think this has something to do with the GST (Goods & Services Tax) introduction in 2007 but we should soon know the findings (fingers crossed) by June 2006 when the National SME Development Council convenes again.
And who’s in the NSDC? Well just about everyone:
The Prime Minister (Chairman)

posted by hew @ 6:12 pm