The Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) recently introduced its inaugural Productivity and Efficiency Joint Funding for Digital Adoption (PENJANA) Scheme, an initiative to boost digital adoption amongst the local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The programme which echoed the country’s strategic objectives of Digital Economy Masterplan 2025 as well as AITI Strategic 2020-2025 aimed to assist local MSMEs to utilise digital solutions in increasing productivity.
The scheme will also allow business operations with digital capabilities to accomplish internal efficiencies, cost reductions and better service offerings to stay competitive in the digital economy.
In his remarks at the launch of the programme, Chief Executive of AITI Ir Haji Jailani Haji Buntar said that digital adoption is recognised as one of the most important approaches for MSMEs to stay ahead in the evolving digital business environment.
“The fast pace of digitalisation has posed various challenges to traditional businesses and their value chain processes, which brings forth many opportunities to MSMEs to integrate technology into their business operations,” he said.
With the increasing number of innovations in digital solutions, he added, AITI has taken the initiative to drive local MSMEs to transform digitally by giving assistance in the form of a joint funding scheme.
The chief executive hoped that the scheme will motivate MSMEs to adopt and adapt digital technology into their business operations for sustainability as the country progresses to becoming a smart nation.
To be eligible for PENJANA Scheme, businesses are required to be fully locally owned and categorised as MSMEs with businesses that must be and fully operational for at least two years.
Eligible MSMEs can apply for joint funding to adopt digital solutions, where they only pay a maximum of 50 per cent of the cost, while AITI will cover the remaining cost.
For convenience, AITI has produced a list of preapproved digital solutions which have been assessed to be market-proven, cost-effective, and supplied by local ICT vendors which include Dynamik Teknologies, TechBru Solutions and DalPlus, among others.
Solutions offered currently are for the Digital Point of Sales (POS) and eCommerce.
The PENJANA Scheme is currently accepting applications for all local MSMEs including those in the non-ICT sector.
MSMEs who wish to apply for this scheme can submit their application forms with a quotation from the pre-approved solution vendor.
The closing date for submission of applications is on 28 February 2022 at 3pm and forms can be obtained at www.aiti.gov.bn/penjana.
Applicants need to submit their forms along with the signed terms and conditions and a quotation from the pre-approved solution vendor listed in the guidebook on AITI website to penjana@aiti.gov.bn.
Local ICT vendors who are interested to be one of the digital solutions providers can email the authority at info@aiti.gov.bn.
This article was first published on 19 February 2022 in our Weekly E-Paper issue 181 |
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
