In a significant move to bolster the national digital economy, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Ant International have solidified a strengthened partnership aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Malaysia.
A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) forms the cornerstone of this collaboration. Under its terms, Ant International will deploy its all-in-one SME transformation platform, EPOS, to provide Malaysian MSMEs with a comprehensive suite of digitalisation tools. MDEC will complement this effort by mobilising its extensive network, engaging the MSME community, industry associations, and ecosystem partners to drive widespread adoption.
This initiative builds upon the foundation of MDEC’s existing Business Digitalisation Initiative (BDI) and its collaboration with Ant International’s global digital business centre in Kuala Lumpur, which focuses on local talent and innovation development.
Empowering the Backbone of the Economy
MSMEs constitute 97% of business establishments in Malaysia, yet many grapple with digital adoption due to cost, access, and knowledge barriers. This partnership is designed to directly address these challenges.
Through the EPOS platform, MSMEs will gain integrated access to payments, digital banking solutions, multi-channel online store deployment, operations management, and AI-powered productivity tools. The platform promises simplicity, affordability, and rapid deployment, enabling businesses to become operational within minutes.
“Digitalisation has become a fundamental requirement for MSMEs to stay competitive and resilient,” stated Anuar Fariz Fadizil, CEO of MDEC. “Our deepened collaboration with Ant International directly supports Malaysia’s journey towards an AI Nation, ensuring that even the smallest enterprises can access modern, AI-enabled tools.”
Targeted Impact for Key Sectors
The retail and food & beverage sectors are poised to benefit significantly. These industries face mounting pressures from rising labour costs, manpower shortages, and evolving consumer demand for seamless digital experiences. The EPOS solution aims to help merchants operate more efficiently, gain data-driven business insights, and expand their online reach.
“Malaysian MSMEs are ambitious, resilient, and eager to grow, but they need the right tools to compete,” said Ian Cheong, CEO of EPOS. “By making advanced technology accessible within minutes… we can ensure no MSME is left behind.”
A Nationally Aligned Strategy
As the lead agency for Malaysia’s digital economy, MDEC will orchestrate outreach initiatives, including workshops and training sessions, to raise awareness and facilitate access to new technologies like AI. These programs will be co-developed to ensure strategic alignment with MDEC’s broader national digitalisation agendas.
About the Partners
- Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), established in 1996 and under the Ministry of Digital, drives Malaysia’s digital economy through industry development, trade facilitation, and policy advocacy. It leads the Malaysia Digital (MD) national strategic initiative.
- Ant International, headquartered in Singapore, is a leading global digital payment, digitisation, and financial technology provider. Its unified techfin platform supports inclusive growth for financial institutions and merchants worldwide.
- EPOS, a Singapore-based Point-of-Sale digital solutions provider and part of Ant International’s Antom ecosystem, delivers integrated online-to-offline (O2O) digital, payment, and banking solutions for SMEs.
