SMEs get RM115m in grants from Miti New Straits Times (Business Times), Wednesday, November 6, 2002 THE Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) has approved grants amounting to RM115.35 million to 6,881 small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) up to the end of last month. Its minister, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz, said the matching grants involved product and process improvement (RM17.33 million), quality certification (RM42.98 million) and market development (RM15.26 million). Grants were also approved for upgrading engineering design capabilities (RM2.92 million), utilising information and communications technology through the usage of enterprise research planning (RM3.49 million) and linkage to the international supply chain through the use of RosettaNet Standard messaging system (RM500,000). Rafidah said this when opening the 4th Malaysia Trade and Consumer Fair "Expo Cintai Malaysia 2002" at the Asia Pacific Auction Centre in Subang. She said the export assistance programme under the Market Development Grant Scheme also received overwhelming response, and a total of 2,137 applications were approved with grants valued at RM15.26 million. Rafidah said Malaysian companies are well known for producing high-quality goods under the contract manufacturing system for multinational companies. The products are marketed worldwide and have gained international acceptance. But with the entry of new contract manufacturers from other low labour cost countries, Malaysian companies need to diversify and move into higher value added activities, she added. The exposition, which ends on November 10, is organised by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.- Bernama Copyright © The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad, Balai Berita 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia