Page 32 - The EDIT | Q2 2017

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My take on Malaysia
When you think about 2017 so far, what were the most exciting things that have happened in your market till date?
For me, the most exciting thing that has happened so far in 2017, concerns a piece of news that was announced late in 2016. The news being that of the appointment of Chinese internet tycoon, Jack Ma, as the Malaysian government’s digital economy adviser. This is a move by the Malaysian government to further boost the Malaysian digital economy that accounts for over 16% of Malaysia’s GDP and of course (just like everywhere else around the world) expected to rise in coming years.
Five months on, at the Global Transformation Forum on 22 March 2017, Malaysia formally launched the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) initiative as part of Malaysia’s National E-Commerce Strategic Roadmap which aims to double e-commerce growth from 11% to 21% by 2020. DFTZ will provide physical and virtual zones to facilitate SMEs to capitalise on the convergence of exponential growth of the internet economy and cross-border e-commerce activities. It will act as a microcosm to support internet companies to trade goods, provide services, innovate and co-create solutions.
DFTZ consists of three main components that combine both physical and virtual zones. The physical zone comprises of the e-Fulfillment Hub and Satellite Services Hub while the virtual zone consists of the e-Services Platform. DFTZ will provide SMEs, marketplaces and monobrands a holistic e-commerce trading experience through these benefits:
Strategic location and global best-in-class facilities
Gateway to the region and proximity to sea and airports
High efficiency modular e-Fulfillment warehouse
Satellite services hub to support eCommerce ecosystem
Employee-centric infrastructure
Services
Unified government services platform
Presence of global logistics and fulfilment service providers
Regulatory processes
Improve regulatory processes leading to faster customs and cargo clearance
“If we can build an inclusive platform for businesses and young people to trade and do business freely, openly, and fairly, this will be fundamental to the world economy over the next 20 to 30 years and for the century.” – Jack Ma
What factor is most driving change in your market at the moment? And how is the industry responding to it?
With the convergence of creative and media capabilities,
a hybrid of agencies are emerging to offer a ‘total communications solution’ for brands/marketers. This is becoming more apparent with media agencies/specialists setting up a creative unit within the agency to provide better solutions to clients – leveraging on the promise of accessing first-hand data by a media agency that allows faster decision-making and development and/or revision of creative work.
Another factor I believe is talent attraction, talent retention and its development — which I believe has never been more important than now within the industry. As we strive to improve our offerings by attracting talents from creative agencies and tech companies, creative agencies strive to retain their talents (from media agencies) and enhancing their own talents via new trainings or the adoption
of technology.
Integrated digital e-Services platform to access leading global service providers
THE EDIT ISSUE 06 | Q2 2017