2nd Malaysia Promotion Programme Rolls Out In Shanghai

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Promotion Programme (MPP), an initiative mooted by the National Export Council, took place for the second time, this time around in Shanghai, complementing its first edition in London in September. Launched by International Trade and Industry Second Minister Ong Ka Chuan on Thursday, the second MPP called 'Malaysia in Shanghai', offered insights and collaboration opportunities to targeted businesses and investors in China, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (MATRADE) said. The programme, a public-private partnership initiative involving various government agencies and private companies from Malaysia, sees the participation of 272 representatives from 171 Malaysian organisations from various sectors. Among others, the event featured the Malaysia Pavilion @ Food Hotel Catering Exhibition, which was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) from Nov 7 to 9. Thirty-nine Malaysian exhibitors, including those supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry and the Ministry of Domestic, Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism in the food & beverages and franchise sector, participated under the Malaysia Pavilion. Three memorandum of understandings (MoUs) targeted at enhancing exports of durian and biomass products, as well as promoting halal products via online platform were signed during the event. The second component of the event labelled 'Taste of Malaysia' highlighted Malaysian food and showcased Malaysian signature dishes from various states. Leveraging e-commerce opportunities in China, one of the world's largest e-commerce markets, the inaugural Malaysia Online Sales involving collaboration with China's second largest e-marketplace, JD.com, takes place from Nov 1 to 30, 2016, MATRADE said in a statement Friday. The event promotes over 800 Malaysian products and services on JD.com on web banner, as well as through product offers at discounts. MATRADE said the 'Malaysia in Shanghai' programme also promoted Malaysian art through an exhibition called 'Discovering Malaysia Contemporary Art', featuring 35 art pieces from 13 renowned artists such as Prof Awang Damit and Tajuddin Ismail. To date, nine art pieces have been sold, it said. MATRADE said other programmes included a Malaysia Business Forum where a business matching programme called the 'Export Acceleration Mission' was organised as a platform for 90 Malaysian companies to meet potential Chinese partners. This segment was designed to not only attract investments from China but also to market Malaysian capabilities in healthcare, information and communication technology, as well as legal services, it said. Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia is taking part in the China International Travel Mart from Nov 11 to 13 with eight Malaysian tour operators participating in the event. With the visa exemption and e-visa programme introduced by the Malaysian government recently, there are more reasons for Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia, MATRADE said. Malaysia's trade with China increased 11.1 per cent to US$52.61 billion (RM230.9 billion) last year compared with US$47.34 billion (RM207.8 billion) in 2014, making China Malaysia's largest trading partner since 2009. The next last MPP for this year will be held in Sydney from Dec 3 to 6, 2016. -- BERNAMA