Matrade Eyes More eMarketplaces Collaboration For eTrade

KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) is eyeing collaboration with other established international e-marketplaces like eBay, Taobao and Amazon.com to provide options that can help local companies under the eTRADE programme. Deputy Chief Executive Officer Dzulkifli Mahmud said Matrade is already in talks with these business-to-business companies. "We also looking at other platforms as well, which can benefit Malaysian companies, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs). "They (other e-marketplaces) may have strength in certain markets, so we can look at this matter seriously," he told reporters after announcing the renewal of eTRADE collaboration between Matrade and Alibaba. Also present was Alibaba Group, Head of Global Business Development, Timothy Leung. eTRADE is a programme initiated by Matrade in 2014 to assist SMEs to be listed in leading international e-marketplaces, with Alibaba as the first partner. Dzulkifli said through the collaboration, Malaysian SMEs have benefited in terms of generating potential business opportunities and received enquiries from many countries, while increasing their skills in doing business online. He said a total of 283 SMEs participated in the eTRADE programme in 2014 and the target is to attract about 2064 this year. "We started quite late last year, between September-December. But, this year, we want to go all out and focus more on attracting young and women entrepreneurs," Dzulkifli added. -- BERNAMA