Malaysia Sees Export of More Japanese Lifestyle Goods

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) is looking at exporting lifestyle products of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to Malaysia to further improve the business relationship between both nations. In this regard, the Japanese government-related organisation will stage the "GOOD GOODs Japan" Lifestyle Fair from July 23-29 at the Pavilion shopping mall here. The latest Japanese lifestyle products such as pottery, kitchenware, haircare and amenity goods will be introduced and marketed. Jetro Managing Director Joji Ikeshita said at present 80 per cent of Japan's SMEs are looking only at domestic market. "They perceive Malaysia as an Islamic market and not easy to penetrate. But the purchasing power in Malaysia is dramatically increasing. "Since Japanese SMEs have never expanded their business here, we are educating the participants as many first timers," he told a media briefing. He said the Lifestyle Fair is among the methods being used to expose Japanese SMEs to the Malaysian market as well as erase their existing perception of it. "Through this, we hope they will see Malaysia as a platform to expand their business to as well as regionally, and among other Muslim countries," Ikeshita added. Forty Japanese SME companies will be participating at the fair with more than 300 goods on display in conjunction with Pavilion’s Tokyo Street's first anniversary. To strengthen ties with Malaysian companies, business matching sessions will be held with the local retailers and wholesalers. "We are still in the midst of inviting more Malaysians to participate. We are very much interested in having more retailers and wholesalers for the one-to-one meetings," Joji said. He said there are great opportunities in both nations to further increase bilateral business ties, especially in the SME sector. -- BERNAMA