New
marketing platform for SMEs
KUALA LUMPUR:
Young entrepreneurs as well as new small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will
soon have another avenue to market their products in Singapore when the
Malaysia External Trade and Development Corp (Matrade) completes a process to
pick 50 of them to kickstart a programme spearheaded by the Young Entrepreneur
Organisation Malaysia (GMB Malaysia).
Matrade’s
exporters development division senior director Datuk Dzulkifli Mahmud said at a media briefing
that this programme would see the first 50 SMEs picked to showcase their fast
moving consumer goods (FMCGs) for a six-month period at a soon-to-be set up
Malaysia Trade Centre in the island-republic.
“We’re hoping
to diversify our market for FMCGs through this type of network,” he said,
adding that this was in addition to other initiatives to expand FMCG exports to
Singapore.
Dzulkifli pointed
out that there was a need to look at other channels to enhance the visibility
of local FMCGs, in particular for new SMEs with exportable products but whose
market reach may not be long enough or who need some financial support.
According to GMB
Malaysia president Agil Faisal Ahmad Fadzil, the centre would be set
up by December by the organisation in a venture with IM Investment Holdings Pte Ltd, a company specialising in
integrating the business value chain.
“The programme
will identify the new SMEs and help them to develop products for exports,” he
said. Besides identifying the companies involved, GMB Malaysia would also help
in running campaigns and organise trade shows for them.
IM, which has
a network in seven countries across the Asia-Pacific region and partners around
the world, would assist via their expertise in various markets and their access
to clients, which include those in the public sector.
Agil said
this platform had been proven in Turkey by IM, which also had a venture with
the Japan External Trade Organisation to do the same.
“We can
further help our SMEs through IM, who can help identify the suitability of
products for exports,” he added.
Agil said if
these companies succeeded in exporting their products to Singapore, there would
be more acceptances for these products in the region and around the world. “Its
a benchmark,” he said.
Meanwhile,
Dzulkifli said Malaysia currently exported a whole range of FMCGs to Singapore.
“These products include those in the food and beverage, household items,
personal care and fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables.”
The latest trade data released by the Statistics Department shows
Singapore remains Malaysia’s second largest trade partner in terms of total
trade with the island-republic taking up a 50.3% share of the RM109.8bil
exports to Asean from January to July.
Date: 13 September 2012
Source: The Star
Today's Pick
(13/09/12/162/855)
No comments:
Post a Comment