Afternoon Highlight (05/04//13/56/754) Matrade targets 300 brands for China trade programme

Matrade targets 300 brands for China trade programme

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) is aiming for at least 300 local brands to participate in China’s Global Purchasing Centres (GPC) programme this year.

The GPC is a special programme to promote and access brands in the key Chinese cities of Beijing, Zhangjiagang, Chongqing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang.

The programme has the support of China’s Commerce Ministry.

Matrade chief executive officer Datuk Dr Wong Lai Sum said so far, 40 qualified companies in various sectors, mostly in food and beverages, had been chosen to participate in the GPC.

“Malaysian companies are encouraged to capitalise on this new platform to tap into the huge Chinese market. They (companies) would be promoted in China for six months at no charge.”

“Among the criteria that companies need to follow are product safety, sufficient supply and acceptability. This is important as it also translates into the image of the country,” she told a press conference here after a briefing on the GPC.

Wong said the venture would not be limited to product sectors such as food and beverage, fashion and accessories, body care, household items and bird’s nest, but also extend to services, especially the franchise sector, which had huge potential in China.

This GPC initiative is one of Matrade’s strategies to contribute to the doubling of Malaysian exports to China by 2015.

Last year, Malaysia’s bilateral trade with China grew by 8% to RM180.61bil, despite the global economic slowdown. — Bernama

Source : The Star

Date : 5 April 2013

Afternoon Highlight (05/04//13/56/754)