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The successful transformation and growth of the economy require SMEs to utilise on existing resources and leverage on new market opportunities. Globalisation has increased the level of competition in the international market. With this in mind the Malaysian Government, under the 9MP and IMP3, has identified several areas of focus to be promoted as important sources of export earnings. The concerted development of these sectors is part of the national development strategy to venture into new growth areas and broaden the economic base whilst providing the basis for sustained rapid growth of the economy. This chapter will highlight the two areas of focus, namely Agriculture and Services, highlighted in 9MP and IMP3 as key potential growth areas (KPGA).

Based on the Census of Establishments and Enterprises 2005, there are 34,188 SMEs in the agriculture sector and 93.1% (31,838) consist of micro establishments. SMEs contribute 42.1% (RM8.7 billion) to total output of the industry. Allocated RM11.4 billion by the Government under the 9MP, agriculture is expected to grow at 4.1% per annum and agriculture and agro-based industry is expected to grow at 5.2% during the period.

The agricultural sector will be supported and developed during the 9MP term, through five guiding principles:
• Increase farming yields whilst extracting new sources of growth and increasing participation from the private sector;
• Expand processing activities in farming and other related products;
• Increase earnings of micro-farming, farmers and fishermen;
• Strengthen marketing and global network; and
• Improve access to information and infrastructure.

To achieve the various targets set, five high impact projects (HIP) have been initiated including The National Feedlot Centre - (Pusat Fidlot Nasional, PFN).

To meet the rising demand for meat, the development of the beef industry will be implemented through the establishment of the National Feedlot Centre. Based in Gemas, the National Feedlot Centre is a joint project between Negeri Sembilan and the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) and is expected to be instrumental in attaining the targeted 28% self-sufficiency level for beef production by 2010.

Mandated as an integrator for the project, National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd is owned by Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd with participation from the Government of Malaysia. Its commercial interest is the development of a planned, integrated and sustainable Malaysian beef industry through the development of the fully integrated livestock farming and beef production facility that manages the import of livestock, feedlotting, slaughtering, processing, packing and marketing of beef in Malaysia. The 310 existing livestock smallholders would act as satellite farms to provide cattle to the centre. This project is expected to establish a feedlot livestock farming system whilst also promoting commercial activities throughout the value chain.

(dipetik dari Chapter 8 : Promoted Growth Sectors, 1.The Agriculture Sector - Third Engine of Growth, National SME Development Council. SME Annual Report 2007, Page 150.)