KUANTAN: Up to 20 local entrepreneurs from the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) showcased their products at the 14th China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) 2017 in Nanning, China, in the hopes of tapping into regional demand for Malaysia’s arts and crafts as well as traditional food products.
The initiative was an effort by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), with the support from the Federal Government and the state governments, to further boost the demand for ECER’s products in China.
“For the first time, ECERDC has hand-picked entrepreneurs from ECER’s arts and crafts industry to be a part of the Malaysian delegation to CAEXPO 2017,” said ECERDC chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John in a statement.
“Given the region’s vibrant and dynamic arts and crafts industry, we strongly believe that there is a growing demand for its unique cultural heritage from consumers around the world, including China and Asean,” he added.
He added that with greater market exposure, there were tremendous opportunities for the local entrepreneurs to promote local arts and crafts while at the same time showcase the region’s potential as a cultural tourism destination.
“This in turn will bring greater socio-economic benefits for the communities, particularly in terms of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities,” said Jebasingam.
Vac Hub Sdn Bhd, a company under the entrepreneur ECER programme which opened the East Coast Art and Souvenir Centre in Genting Highlands, was among the selected companies and entrepreneurs participating in the trade mission for the first time.
Its director Jeffrey Kee said his showroom in Genting Highlands exhibits locally-made textile products from the ECER such as batik, tenun and songket as well as silver and pewter, wooden handicraft and traditional toys.
“From there, our products have received overwhelming response among foreign tourists especially from China and Asean.
“Leveraging on this strong demand, we are excited with the golden opportunity offered by ECERDC to participate in this trade mission and promote the east coast arts and crafts to potential foreign buyers across the region,” he said.
Another first-timer was Gahara Galore Sdn Bhd, an artisan batik label from Kelantan carrying the brand name Ruzz Gahara and a participant of ECERDC’s entrepreneur ECER-SIRIM programme.
Founder Nik Mohd Faiz Nik Mohamed Amin said it was a good platform to introduce the intricate workmanship of batik textile from the east coast to the international marketplace seeing that China and Asean were on the rise as important players in the global fashion world.
This year also marked the first time a company from the ECER was given General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China approval that allowed pineapples to be exported to China.
“We first participated in CAEXPO a few years ago but we were unable to make a breakthrough at that point in time due to China’s regulations back then, despite receiving positive feedback.
“However, with the protocol on phytosanitary requirement successfully signed by the Malaysian and Chinese Governments in May this year, local players can now export pineapples to China.
“This year, we will be aggressively marketing our two products, namely fresh pineapples and processed pineapples,” said Patrick Teo, general manager of Rompin Integrated Pineapple Industries Sdn Bhd.
CAEXPO is one of the largest international trade fairs in the region held annually since 2004.
The event this year was held from Sept 12 to 15.
Last year, several home-grown companies from the ECER successfully entered into strategic partnerships to export their products and secured contracts worth more than RM8.5mil in total.
“The close bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China has opened up immense opportunities for local entrepreneurs to venture into the Chinese and Asean markets.
“ECERDC is committed to realise the full potential of Malaysia’s close partnership with China, by providing the right platform for our entrepreneurs and anchor companies in the ECER to grow from local players to global exporters through our development programmes including empower ECER and entrepreneur ECER,” said Jebasingam.
In conjunction with CAEXPO 2017, the statement said ECERDC would also conduct a series of business meetings with identified potential investors including in pharmaceutical, renewable energy, and Big Data and cloud computing operator to come into ECER to serve the numerous investors from China in the region.
In addition, ECERDC would also be engaging the top management of existing China investors at the ECER to facilitate the realisation of committed investments within the economic region.
The Malaysian delegation to CAEXPO this year was led by International Trade and Industry Minister II Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan.
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