M'sian Minister In Surabaya To Enhance Business Networking With East Java SME Operators

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister of Malaysia Mustapa Mohamed is on a two-day working visit to Surabaya as part of his ministry's efforts to ehnance small and medium enterprises (SMEs) business networking with East Java SME entrepreneurs and trade associations. Twenty-six Malaysian SME entrepreneurs under the tutelage of SME Corp Malaysia and Halal Development Corporation, the two agencies under the International Trade and Industry Ministry's (MITI) purview, are in the minister's entourage. Mustapa and his delegation would meet and hold business match-making sessions with businessmen and trade and investment organisations in Surabaya, said MITI in a statement Monday. Among them are Perhimpunan Pengusaha Indonesia Tionghua (PERPIT), Himpunan Pengusaha Muda Indonesia (HIPMI), Kamar Dagang Dan Industri (KADIN) Jawa Timur, Perkumpulan Masyarakat dan Pengusaha Indonesia Tionghua (PERMIT). The entrepreneurs are from the food, beverages, logistics, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, construction and automotive sectors, it said. Mustapa has previously gone on a similar mission to Jogjakarta, Bali, Balikpapan, Manado and Jakarta. MITI said the focus on provinces outside Jakarta was important as they are increasingly recording economic growth. "Through these missions, Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral economic and trade ties can improve besides broadening business networking between entrepreneurs of the two friendly neighbours, particularly among SME entrepreneurs," it said. Malaysia's exports to Indonesia grew 15.1 per cent from US$5.88 billion (RM18.1 billion) in 2010 to US$6.76 billion (RM20.8 billion) last year. The main exports are chemicals and chemical-based products, electrical and electronics parts and components, machinery and equipment, petroleum products and processed food. Malaysia's imports from Indonesia also surged 19.4 per cent to US$11.41 billion (RM35.1 billion) last year vis-a-vis US$9.56 billion (RM29.4 billion) in 2010. The imports are palm oil, steel products, chemicals and chemical-based goods, petroleum products and electrical and electronics equipment. -- BERNAMA