Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

MATRADE RAISES AWARENESS ON DOING BUSINESS WITH JAPAN AT SEMINAR

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016, KUALA LUMPUR: Capitalising on the long standing ties between Malaysia and Japan, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in a collaboration with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) organised a seminar on Doing Business in Japan at Menara MATRADE today. The seminar aims to boost the awareness among Malaysian players on exporting and investing in Japan.

Held in conjunction with the 59th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Japan, the event will be updating Malaysian companies on the guidelines and procedures to export as well as to invest in Japan.  The seminar is considered timely as it is one of the initiatives put together to prepare Malaysian companies to tap on the potential of supplying products and services for Tokyo Olympic 2020.

According to MATRADE’s CEO, Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud, “Japan has proven for many years to be our loyal importer as they believe in the quality and reliability of Malaysian products and services. We foresee a great demand to surface from the Tokyo Olympics event, especially in the Halal segment.”

Japan also remains among Malaysia’s largest source of foreign direct investments in the manufacturing sector. Japanese investors are mainly in sectors such as electronics and electrical products, non-metallic mineral products, basic metal products, petroleum products including petrochemicals, chemicals and chemical products, as well as transport equipment.

A lot of Malaysian companies have made inroads and have invested in Japan, with many venturing into the area of Halal restaurants.  Some of these companies are Brahim’s Food Japan Co. Ltd. that offers authentic Malaysian Halal food, Les’ Copaque Japan Co., Ltd. which has opened two Halal restaurants called Saishoku Teppan Ippin and Ippin Asakusa as well as Harq Food Industry Sdn Bhd that owns Wadihana Malaysia Halal Restaurant in Kyoto. Some other Malaysian brands that have a presence in Japan include Life, Top Glove, S.Kian Seng, Julie’s, Carotino and Bonia.

Likewise, Japanese companies too have ventured in Malaysia through brands like Nippon Express which is the first Japanese logistics company to acquire halal logistics certification in Malaysia. Others include familiar names like Daiso, Panasonic, NEC, Sanyo, Honda, Fuji Electric and Sony, just to name a few.

To further enhance and strengthen bilateral economic and trade ties with Japan, MATRADE continues to assist Malaysian companies to export to Japan as well as facilitate Japanese companies’ interest to source from Malaysia. For 2016, there are 12 trade promotion programmes to be organised by MATRADE in collaboration with JETRO, The Japanese Chamber of Trade & Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM), Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) and ASEAN Japan Trade Centre. These programmes are trade fairs, marketing missions and international sourcing programmes.

In 2015, Japan was Malaysia’s fourth largest trading partner after China, Singapore and the United States of America, with total trade valued at RM 127.40 billion. Export stood at RM 73.81 billion and imports were RM 53.59 billion.

Moving forward, the two nations stand to reap more trade rewards as the TPPA signed in February this year is expected to be an impetus for greater business prospects in terms of improved market access and reduction or elimination of tariff. MATRADE through its extensive network worldwide also has an office in Tokyo to assist Malaysian companies that are keen to expand to Japan.