THE Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is targeting for a total of 15,200 rural traders nationwide to be involved with the digital business model or e-wallet by 2022.

Its minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said that to achieve the target, the ministry, in collaboration with local authorities, would expand the Retail Digital Initiative in every state.

“This programme is to ensure petty traders are not left behind and to help small businesses in remote areas be involved in the new digital business models,” he said at a ceremony to launch the Sarawak Retail Sector Digitalisation Initiative programme in Kapit today.

Nanta said based on the records of the Statistics Department, the e-commerce transaction revenue had jumped 30% to RM254.6 billion in the first quarter of 2021.

“Based on Bank Negara records, the use of e-wallets also showed an increase of RM600 million in 2020 compared to the previous year, which only recorded RM300 million,” he said.

Nanta said this increase was significant and reflected the level of acceptance in the use of cashless transactions in the country.

“The implementation of the initiative is also seen as being capable of providing momentum to the national digitalisation agenda, especially to the retail sector industry players,” he said. – Bernama, November 28, 2021.