E-commerce sector records significant growth

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan (pic) said the categories identified were financing, marketing, human capital, infrastructure and business premise development, technological advancement in line with the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0).

KUALA LUMPUR: The e-commerce sector has recorded significant growth in 2016 and contributed RM74.6bil, or 6.1% to the gross domestic product (GDP) from RM68.3bil, or 5.9% in 2015. 

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, said the government had set up a National E-Commerce Strategic Plan 2016-2020 to ensure the sector continued to progress. 

“The Plan is projected to double the rate of e-commerce growth in Malaysia to 20.8 per cent by 2020 from 10.8 per cent in 2016.

“This growth rate will contribute over RM211bil in value to the GDP compared to the initial target set under the 11th Malaysia Plan of RM114bil,” he told the Dewan Rakyat here today.

Ahmad said this in reply to a question by Rubiah Wang (Kota Samarahan-BN), who had asked the ministry to state the strategy to ensure that the country’s e-commerce sector would continue to grow and the performance level of the sector so far.

He said the Plan outlined six key areas expediting the acceptance of sellers; increasing e-Perolehan use; eliminating non-tariff barriers; restructuring existing economic incentives; stimulating trategic investments; and, promoting national brands.

Among the government’s initiatives to promote e-commerce growth included the launch of the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) last year to increase the involvement of more entrepreneurs in global e-commerce transactions, he said.

“Since the launch of DFTZ, 2,072 businesses have been registered to take the opportunity to export their products through the Alibaba platform,” he said. - Bernama