Guangzhou: Twelve Malaysian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives have set their sights on achieving up to RM150 million in potential sales and business partnerships during their participation in the China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) in Guangzhou, China.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) announced that these 12 MSMEs and cooperatives, which focus on the food, beverage, and health product sectors, are partaking in the exhibition as a segment of a dedicated trade mission to Guangzhou from September 1 to 5. Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim is spearheading the mission and is set to attend the 32nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting (APEC SMEMM).
KUSKOP stated that the mission aims to facilitate Malaysian MSMEs and cooperatives in gaining enhanced access to international markets, speeding up digitalisation efforts, and broadening their global footprint. "Our focus is clear: to secure new buyers and business partners for Malaysian companies, while identifying technologies and business models that can help our MSMEs enhance their export capabilities," said Sim.
As a component of the mission, Sim is scheduled to conduct working sessions with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in Guangzhou. These sessions are intended to assist Malaysian companies in finding additional buyers, distributors, e-commerce platforms, and strategic partners, while also examining investment opportunities from Guangdong.
The statement from KUSKOP highlighted that the ministry will also concentrate on attracting investments that could provide benefits to local MSMEs by creating opportunities for them to serve as suppliers, distributors, technology partners, and service providers to Chinese companies operating in Malaysia.
Furthermore, the KUSKOP delegation is set to engage in strategic discussions with Alibaba's South China Operations Centre to explore potential cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, data analytics, cross-border e-commerce, digital marketing, and smart logistics. Among the proposals under consideration is a program designed to assist Malaysian MSMEs in entering Alibaba's global business-to-business ecosystem, enhancing their AI and digital skills, and gaining access to support for warehousing, order fulfilment, shipping, and cross-border trade.
Sim is also slated to inaugurate the Malaysia Pavilion at CISMEF, which hosts over 1,000 Chinese enterprises and institutions under the theme 'AI Empowering SMEs', and to observe the launch of new products by Malaysian companies. He will represent Malaysia at the 32nd APEC SMEMM on September 4, with KUSKOP and its agencies set to follow up on potential sales, market, investment, and technology cooperation opportunities stemming from the mission.