Today's Pick (15/10/12/182/877) Making sure Malaysian brands stay competitive

Making sure Malaysian brands stay competitive


ALTHOUGH Malaysian brands are already known in many parts of the world and associated with quality and value-for-money, more needs to be done in order to stay competitive, says Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah Sultan Azlan Shah.

Raja Nazrin said the race to be internationally competitive and world class is one that never ends.

"We have to use the strong foundations that we have developed to launch out into the global market," he said in a keynote address at the National Mark of Malaysian Brands (NMMB) award here yesterday.

Raja Nazrin said each Malaysian product that gains acceptance in the world markets tells a story as much about the country as the organisation from which it originates.

"Each product and service that we offer says something about us, not just individually and corporately, but also as a country."

The NMMB is a trust mark, a symbol of excellence, quality and distinction for Malaysian products and services, which in turn gives assurance and confidence to the public subscribing to it.

Besides presenting the trophies and certificates to the 24 recipients of the NMMB, Raja Nazrin also graced the launch of "Brand Transformer", a joint programme by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and SME Corp Malaysia.

The Brand Transformer serves as a vehicle to demonstrate the benefits of using appropriate and attractive packaging, technology and materials to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the rural areas. It is aimed at enhancing the awareness on the importance of branding and packaging.

SME Corp expects 1,500 micro small and medium enterprises to take part in the newly-launched programme.

Chief executive officer Datuk Hafsah Hashim said the Brand Transformer will go on a nationwide roadshow and is scheduled to run around 25 sessions annually.

"The programme will be run by us and our partners from the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia, SIRIM, the Design Development Centre and others," she told a press conference. Also present was Deputy International Trade and industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

In conjunction with the programme, SME Corp also organised the Malaysian Brand Forum 2012.

Titled, "Branding Malaysian", the forum is focused on exploring new approaches to branding. Special guest speaker at the forum was former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.


Source : New Straits Times
Date : 12 October 2012
Today's Pick (15/10/12/182/877)