TM LAUNCHES BIZFEST 2012 TO EMPOWER MALAYSIAN SME COMMUNITIES

The SME showcase of the year to be held in three major cities

Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today launched the inaugural SME BizFest 2012, a two-day event which will be held in three major cities namely Penang, Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur starting from April until May this year.

SME BizFest 2012 aims to provide a synergistic ICT showcase for Malaysian SMEs to increase product and services knowledge and awareness among the fraternity. Among the highlights of the event are interactive presentations, plenary style conferences covering a wide range of ICT and SME topics by renowned international and local speakers, latest technology demonstration and exhibitions. Thus, through this event, TM is providing yet another avenue for SMEs to empower their businesses via knowledge sharing and by participating in the activities held. In addition, SME BizFest provides the platform for SMEs to interact among themselves and opens up business opportunities through business matching sessions organised during the two-day event.Azizi A. Hadi, Executive Vice President, SME, TM (back row, centre), Dato’ Rozalila Abdul Rahman, Chief Marketing Officer, TM (back row, right) and Suzana Mohd Salleh, General Manager, SME, TM (back row, left) together with the representatives of the partners for SME BizFest™ 2012 at the launch of programme today.

“We are proud to collaborate with global ICT leaders and we are thankful for the participation from Green Oranges, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and Panasonic for the SME BizFest 2012. We are optimistic with the future of TM’s business solutions and services and we are delighted to be able to play a part in the widespread development, adoption and deployment in supporting SMEs’ growth,” said Azizi A Hadi, Executive Vice President, SME, TM.

For this event, TM has received encouraging support from its esteemed partners such as Green Oranges, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and Panasonic. Green Oranges comes in as the Premium Partner and also the Official Transportation Provider for SME BizFest 2012. A mock cheque presentation ceremony, signifying the support received from the event partners, was held at the launch today.

This series of event is expected to attract more than 500,000 SME business communities in Malaysia who requires ICT solutions to improve and enhance their business operations.

Guests and attendees of the SME BizFest 2012 will also get to participate in exciting games which offer various rewards and prizes to be won, all under one roof.

TM has developed various products and services which are specially tailored to SME businesses, including UniFi for business, Office in a Box, SmartMap, IPVPN, DOME, VSAT, Microsoft Office 365 and TollFree, as well as other business-centric applications and solutions which enhances business processes and in turn, increases productivity and business revenues. These solutions are available at a very special rate throughout SME BizFest 2012.

Details of SME BizFest 2012 are stated in the table below:

DATE	VENUES
13 - 14 April 2012	Equatorial Hotel Convention & Exhibition Centre, Penang
11 - 12 May 2012	Persada Johor Bahru
18 - 19 May 2012	Sunway Convention Centre, Petaling Jaya

“Being the nation’s leading telecommunication service provider, TM is committed in our partnership role to support SME’s development and growth by enabling SMEs to achieve a competitive edge, leveraging on our wide array of solutions and extensive networks nationwide. SME BizFest is one of the many special platforms that we have prepared for Malaysian SMEs. We really hope that those participating in this event will enjoy themselves and the main objective of holding this event is met,” added Azizi.

In keeping with its leadership role in promoting and facilitating the growth ICT in the country, TM also announced the launch of the Mercu Award. This award recognises individuals and small businesses that have achieved extraordinary results from the innovative use of ICT. This award also aims to acknowledge small and medium enterprise that can become the benchmark as an innovative SME which has successfully shown an exemplary growth and profitability using TM’s products and services. In addition, the award serves as appreciation and recognition for the SMEs that are loyal customers of TM’s products and services.

There are two (2) categories for the Mercu Award – Mercu Top 100 and Excellence Mercu Award. Nominations for the Mercu Award are open to all SMEs in Malaysia and nominations can be done during SME BizFest and also via online starting from 13th April 2012 until 31st December 2012. The award ceremony will be held during the first half of 2013 in Klang Valley.

For more info on SME BizFest 2012 please log on to www.tm.com.my/sme or call our hotline at 1800-2-BizFest (24933).