Capital A Bhd CEO Tony Fernandes said the collaboration, which encompasses business education in digital marketing and branding as well as networking opportunities, aims to empower SMEs with the skills and proficiencies to succeed in today’s digital era.

“Through our partnership with CTOS, we anticipate equipping both CTOS Verified SMEs and the broader business community with the tools necessary to enhance their marketability and proficiency in tech skills crucial for the current digitally-led business landscape,” he said at the launch of the CTOS Verified Service today.

He said new courses will be added depending on the demand from SMEs. “We will have a course deployment every two weeks,” he said.

CTOS chief operating officer Lee Shin Mei said it targets for 10% out of the 22,000 SMEs in its ecosystem to enroll in the CTOS verified programme by year end.

She said CTOS aims to enable SMEs to not just discover the importance of technology, but also how they can market their products by collaborating with AirAsia Academy.

Apart from SMEs obtaining the CTOS Verified Seal as a mark of online credibility, she said the service offers exclusive access to national networking events, consulting workshops, marketing coaching and a range of other benefits.

At the event, Fernandes kicked off the business education programme for entrepreneurs by sharing lessons on perseverance and creativity in business, inspiring them to push boundaries. Airasia academy digital marketing lead trainer Ciayi Lim then shared practical tips on using social media for business growth.