KUALA LUMPUR, 05 December 2025 – The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Ant International have strengthened their partnership to accelerate the digital transformation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide.
Under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Ant International will empower local MSMEs through EPOS, the all-in-one SME transformation platform of Ant International’s Antom, offering a comprehensive suite of digitalisation solutions. MDEC will support the programme by engaging the MSME community, industry associations, and ecosystem partners to drive broad-based digital adoption across Malaysia.
This initiative builds upon MDEC’s ongoing collaboration with Ant International, which has already supported local talent and innovation development through its global digital business centre in Kuala Lumpur under the Business Digitalisation Initiative (BDI).
Anuar Fariz Fadzil, CEO of MDEC, remarked:
“Digitalisation has become a fundamental requirement for MSMEs to remain competitive and resilient. 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. By synergising global technology capabilities with Malaysia’s national priorities, we are empowering MSMEs to transform how they operate, strengthen their business foundations, and participate fully in the opportunities of the digital economy.”
Driving Digital Inclusion for Malaysian MSMEs
MSMEs form the backbone of Malaysia’s economy, accounting for 97% of all business establishments. Yet many face barriers to adopting digital tools, including limited access, cost constraints, and lack of technical expertise.
Through EPOS, Ant International will unify its ecosystem of digital solutions and cutting-edge AI technologies into a single platform that integrates payments, digital banking, and growth tools tailored for MSMEs. With EPOS, businesses will gain access to simple, affordable, and powerful digital solutions, including payments, multi-channel online store deployment, operations management, and AI-powered productivity tools, all accessible within minutes.
Merchants will also unlock valuable business insights to run operations more efficiently, make data-driven decisions, and expand their reach across online channels. Retail and F&B merchants, in particular, stand to benefit as they face rising labour costs, manpower constraints, and growing customer expectations for seamless, digitally enhanced experiences.
Ian Cheong, CEO of EPOS, added: “Malaysian MSMEs are ambitious, resilient, and eager to grow, but they need the right tools to compete in an increasingly digital economy. MDEC has made great strides in supporting MSME digitalisation, and through EPOS, we can advance this national strategy even further. By making advanced technology accessible within minutes, so that even the smallest business can operate smarter, serve customers better, and scale with confidence, we can ensure no MSME is left behind.”
Leveraging Malaysian Ecosystems for Support
As the agency leading Malaysia’s transformation towards an innovation-led digital economy, MDEC will spearhead initiatives to connect local communities, industry partners, and ecosystem players, enabling them to collectively reach SMEs across diverse sectors.
These initiatives will include:
- Workshops and training sessions to raise awareness and facilitate access to new technologies such as AI
- Co-developed programmes to engage SMEs and support the adoption of digital solutions
- Strategic alignment of the partnership with MDEC’s broader national digitalisation strategies and ongoing initiatives.
