Anak Kumbong, Deputy Minister of Digital; YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital; YBhg. Datuk Haji Rodzi Bin Md. Saad, Secretary-General, Digital Ministry; and YB Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC launching eUsahawan and Gig Fest.
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the nation’s lead digital economy agency under the purview of the Ministry of Digital, organised the eUsahawan and Gig Fest for the first time at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The event served as a platform to showcase the achievements of the eUsahawan and Global Online Workforce (GLOW) programmes, both of which have played a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive digital economy, aligned with the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI.
With the theme “The Opportunity is Here,” eUsahawan and Gig Fest aims to cultivate a more digitally driven culture and equip individuals, graduates, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital economy. The event provided participants such as investors, entrepreneurs, startups, gig economy workers, and digital professionals with valuable insights on leveraging digital technologies to create job opportunities, promote products and services, and expand their market reach through online platforms.
Since 2015, MDEC’s eUsahawan programme has successfully trained 563,543 entrepreneurs nationwide, generating impressive cumulative sales exceeding RM1.24 billion. The programme’s impact extends beyond direct training, with eUsahawan modules now integrated into the curriculums of over 35 tertiary education institutions and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, significantly contributing to national roadmaps such as the National E-Commerce Strategic Roadmap, Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, and Industry4WRD.
This year, MDEC aims to train 30,000 SMEs, tertiary and TVET students, with a sales target of RM35 million. Additionally, 100 new eUsahawan hubs will be established in strategic locations nationwide to expose local entrepreneurs to more efficient digital marketing techniques. For the GLOW programme introduced in 2016, MDEC has assisted a total of 105,390 participants from across the country in increasing their income, successfully generating a collective revenue of up to RM282.76 million. The programme has played a crucial role in honing the skills and knowledge of participants, especially unemployed graduates as well as those who have experienced job loss and salary cuts, enabling them to succeed as digital freelancers.
Through the High-Value Gig Digital Freelance programme, MDEC has been entrusted by the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) in collaboration with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) under the Career Advancement Programme (KPT-CAP) to train 5,000 tertiary students by providing digital skills. This initiative aims to offer opportunities for the target group to enter high-value job fields on regional gig job platforms.
eUsahawan and Gig Fest serves as a platform for visitors to empower their digital businesses by gaining support from local and international customers, while also competing on a global level to secure sustainable income sources.
This initiative reflects MDEC’s commitment to bridge the digital gap and empower the people to seize opportunities presented by the digital economy, ultimately positioning Malaysia as the digital hub of ASEAN.