RIDING on the popularity of K-culture in Malaysia, K•Fish Trade Support Centre has established collaborations with local distributors to bring a taste of Korea to Malaysians.
K•Fish plays a major role in helping to carry out marketing campaigns.
Set up in Malaysia by the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, K•Fish connects Korean suppliers to Malaysian distributors and plays a major role in helping to carry out marketing campaigns, both on ground as well as online to educate the public about Korean seafood and seafood related products. Another important role the agency plays is in helping local distributors choose the right partner and products, as well as to introduce more innovative products from Korea.
The KL regional office was opened in June 2018, joining a family of 10 offices worldwide.
A fruitful collaboration with Nguan Seng brings Korean seafood and related products to the Malaysian market.
One fruitful collaboration is with a major local distributor and main partner of K•Fish – Nguan Seng (1990) Sdn Bhd. Founded in 1990, Nguan Seng deals in premium imported foodstuffs and health foods. Primarily specialising products from Australia and Taiwan, Nguan Seng has now added Korean products to its portfolio.
Nguan Seng Marketing Director KC Ng details how it started, “We were participating in a K Food Fair back in late 2018 when K•Fish Managing Director Lee Dong Jun approached us on expanding our range of Korean products. Back then, we didn’t bring in so much variety and not in big quantities.”
He explained, “It was difficult for local importers and distributors to identify the right suppliers and products. K•Fish helps connect both sides and has given us very good marketing support as well as opportunities to build and expand out network with Korean suppliers. In fact, we get very strong support from the Korean government and agencies, which has helped greatly in bringing in more Korean foodstuffs for the local market.”
K•Fish has helped greatly in bringing in more Korean foodstuffs for the local market.
Ng also added that with K•Fish, the public can be educated on Korean food. “With its connections, K•Fish can bring in popular Korean pop stars or organize cooking show and demonstrations on a big scale, which is beyond the budget of most local distributors. Not to mention, we also do not have the resources to execute such events. K•Fish also provides the marketing materials, such as signboards, buntings and even promoters for food fairs and such events, making it possible for more local distributors to participate.”
Lee (left) and Ng talking about their collaboration and the Korean food market in Malaysia.
Lee says, “Our ultimate goal is to increase the knowledge on Korean seafood and seafood products among more Malaysians. Also, our Korean SMEs can also benefit by learning more about the Malaysian market to ease penetration into it.”
He adds, “We also hold online business marketing for local distributors and Korean suppliers. In fact, we recently concluded such a session and are planning the next one for November.”
Ng says, “I can see a promising future for Korean food in Malaysia. From what I can see, Korean food has already overtaken Taiwan and Japan in terms of Oriental products. There is wide acceptance of Korean food among the Malaysian population, partly because of the exposure from YouTube videos online as well K-Dramas that are widely watched and followed here. With continuous support from agencies such as K•Fish, the market for Korean food will grow.”
Right now, K•Fish is still looking to collaborate with more local distributors.
If you are interested in working on importing seafood products from South Korea to Malaysia, feel free to contact Korean Seafood Trade Support Center Malaysia Representative Office.
You may contact kfishklmy@gmail.com for more details or log on to http://www.kfishtrade.com/eng/main/main.html to view product catalogues or keep update via K·FISH Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KFISHKLMY
