Ministry
to help further expand SMEs’ market base in China
SHANGHAI: The Domestic Trade Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry
is looking to further expand the market base for Malaysian small and medium
enterprises’ (SME) products into the China market, tapping onto the growing
second-tier cities.
The ministry’s secretary-general Datuk
Saripuddin Kasim said that it was a consideration now that the Taste of Malaysia
programme has been introduced to first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
“We believe we have a great future here and expect to penetrate more
markets perhaps, second-tier cities in China,” he said after launching the
programme at a Tesco hypermarket in Shanghai, in collaboration with Tesco
Stores Malaysia.
“This is the first programme we launched in Shanghai and the
second in China. Last year we launched a similar programme in Beijing and had
recorded an impressive performance,” he said, speaking on the reception of
Malaysian products in Tesco Beijing since a year ago.
Sales of Malaysian products under Tesco Beijing had increased to
an average monthly sales of RM25,000 from January to March this year, compared
with RM6,000 from May to December last year.
“We quite understand the market in Beijing but need about six months
to a year to understand the market in Shanghai,” he said, noting that 60 more
products would hit the shelves of storews here over the next three months, in
addition to the current 40.
Prior to the Shanghai launch, there were 16 stores in Beijing
participated in the programme.
Among the Malaysian products that struck a fancy with Beijing locals
are frozen durian, potato chips and jelly.
Last year, China superseded Singapore as Malaysia’s largest export
market with export value reaching RM91.25bil. Malaysia, in turn, is China’s
largest trading partner from the Asean region.
Saripuddin said that it was a challenge to enter the China market as
there was a strict screening process before products could be approved.
“The SMEs’ interest is great. Through Tesco, there are already 1000
SMEs keen on marketing their products to China but after reviewing in Malaysia,
we found only 60 ready to be marketed here,” he said.
“They must be ready in terms of technology, capacity, financing,
food safety, packaging and many more. We have to grow and develop them before
they are ready to enter this market,” he said.
The Taste of Malaysia programme, which promotes and markets
Malaysia’s consumer products through hypermarkets and supermarkets abroad, was
first launched in 2005 in Hong Kong.
Including the launch in Shanghai, 13 programmes have been launched
in the “east” so far this year and there are three more to come before
year-end. South Korea will in the books next year.
Over the years, the programme has reached Singapore, Jakarta,
London, Paris, Tokyo and Dubai.
Source : The
Star
Date : 14 May 2012
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