DFTZ will go on to boost e-commerce

THE Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ), which has seen some RM52.1mil in sales by local companies under its eMarketplace platforms, will be continued under the Pakatan Hara­pan Government.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo assured lawmakers that the DFTZ would go on to make Malaysia the gateway for e-commerce in the region.

“The Government will continue implementing initiatives that benefit small and medium enterprises (SMEs),” he said in reply to Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang).

Gobind said the DFTZ, which was launched under the previous administration, was not just about Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group, as it also included other e-commerce industry players.

“The cooperation with Alibaba will let SMEs conduct cross-border trade and it is not the only platform under the DFTZ.

“There are other players, including locals who are creating their own platforms,” he said.

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), he added, was also working with other platforms under the DFTZ such as Amazon, eBay, Lazada, Trade India and BuyMalaysia.