By Smita Krishnaswamy

GOOGLE, the SME Infocomm Resource Centre @ Singapore Polytechnic (SIRC@SP), and PurpleClick are partnering to offer Singapore's 158,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a new business stimulus package.

The package is intended to help these SMEs attract new customers and improve sales both locally and globally via the Internet.

Only 32 per cent of Singapore SMEs have company websites, according to the IDA Annual Survey on Infocomm Usage by Enterprises.

Mr Charif El-Ansari, head of online and reseller sales at Google South-east Asia, said that although SMEs understand that the Internet is an opportunity to expand locally and across the world, they either do not know how to get started or are afraid to try something new.

The first 100 SMEs which apply can opt to have a company website developed by SIRC@SP at no charge. Subsequent applicants will pay a one-time fee of $180 for the development work.

Google is offering $100 worth of free credits to start using its search marketing platform, Google AdWords, for new customers. PurpleClick, an online advertising agency, is offering a one-on-one tutorial on how to set up and maintain a search marketing campaign.

Mr Mark Fernandez, 42, founder of FYI Brands, an advertising agency, said that the scheme was a push for his company to go ahead and build a website.

From now till Aug 31, interested SMEs can sign up for the business stimulus plan at www.google.com.sg/stimulus

This article was first published in The Straits Times.