Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Ant International have formalized a partnership aimed at accelerating digital adoption among the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The collaboration, established through a new Memorandum of Understanding, will leverage Ant International’s EPOS platform, a comprehensive suite of digitalisation tools under Antom, while MDEC will mobilize local MSME communities and ecosystem partners to drive adoption nationwide.

The initiative builds on MDEC’s ongoing efforts under the Business Digitalisation Initiative, which focuses on talent development and innovation through its global digital business centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Anuar Fariz Fadzil, MDEC’s CEO, highlighted the importance of digital transformation, noting that access to AI-enabled tools is now critical for MSMEs to remain competitive.

He emphasized that combining global technology capabilities with national priorities would strengthen business foundations and enable enterprises to fully engage in the digital economy.

MSMEs account for 97% of Malaysia’s business establishments but continue to face challenges in adopting digital tools due to cost constraints, technical limitations, and limited access.

Through EPOS, Ant International aims to simplify digitalisation by integrating payments, digital banking, operations management, and AI-driven productivity solutions into a single platform.

Businesses can also gain actionable insights to optimize operations, improve customer engagement, and expand online reach.

Retail and food and beverage operators are expected to benefit most as these sectors confront rising labor costs and increasing consumer demand for mobile-first, seamless experiences.

Ian Cheong, CEO of EPOS, stated that the platform equips MSMEs with advanced technology within minutes, helping them operate efficiently, serve customers better, and scale confidently.

MDEC will support the rollout through workshops, training sessions, and co-developed programs to raise awareness and facilitate adoption of new technologies including AI.

The agency’s efforts aim to align the partnership with broader national digitalisation strategies, ensuring that MSMEs across various sectors receive the guidance and resources needed to transition into an innovation-driven digital economy.

This collaboration positions Malaysia to strengthen its AI capabilities while fostering inclusive growth among its small business sector.