Training programmes in Network Marketing, under the collaborative effort of Asia Network Marketing Academy and School of Professional and Executive Education (SPEED) of Asia e-University (AeU) was launched on Thursday 12 November 2009. YB Senator Dato’ Maznah Mazlan, Deputy Minister of Human Resources, officiated the launching ceremony at the campus of Asia e-University in Kuala Lumpur.

In attendance were YBhg Prof Dato Dr Ansary Ahmed, President & CEO AeU, Bapak Hermawan Kartajaya, Founder & President, MarkPlus Inc, Jakarta, Dr Zakaria Taib, Senior Business Mentor & Advisor, MarkPlus Inc, Speakers YBhg Prof Dato Dr Muhamad Muda, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University Sains Islam Malaysia and YBhg Dato Dr Ibrahim Bajunid, Director of Regional Center for Educational Planning (UNESCO-RCEP), United Arab Emirates, Network Marketing companies and relevant government authorities/agencies.

It is estimated that about five million of the population in Malaysia are involved in direct selling/network marketing. The industry has been reported to generate sales of RM8 billion in 2007 which contributed to 3% of the country’s GDP. The World Federation of Direct Selling acknowledged Malaysia as the 11th largest direct selling/network marketing group in the world.

Even though there are more than 600 direct selling/network marketing companies in Malaysia, licensed by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, only half are actively operating. Many are reported to be closing down in recent years and 90% of the people who join the industry as distributors fail and would quit the industry in the first year. This is mainly attributed to the lack of skills and knowledge of distributors in the industry. Other issues are related to regulations and enforcements by the authorities or the relevant direct selling/network marketing associations, as a result, it is unable to attract many professionals to join the business. Sadly, the perception of the public on the industry in general is not encouraging.

However, with appropriate training and knowledge, the direct selling/network marketing business could be an attractive and viable business alternative for many ordinary persons in this country. The skills and knowledge required to succeed are learnable, and are applicable to most other industries.
For the above reasons, MarkPlus Institute of Marketing and SPEED of Asia e-University are collaborating to combine their expertise and knowledge to assist the network marketing industry by offering relevant training and educational programmes to meet all players in the industry.