FRIDAY, 27 JULY 2018, KUALA LUMPUR: In an effort to boost business partnerships in the lifestyle sector among ASEAN member countries, Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia (PENYAYANG) with the support of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) will be organising the ASEAN Lifestyle Week (ALW) 2018 from 8-9 September 2018 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

The event presents an opportunity for Malaysia to lead in yet an untapped segment across the region, and make Kuala Lumpur a one-stop-centre for buyers and sellers from across the world to congregate and do business, ultimately benefitting Malaysia’s trade. The ALW 2018 will showcase the best that ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have to offer in the lifestyle sector, under the backdrop of ASEAN’s economic and cultural diversity.

According to MATRADE’s Director of Lifestyle & Life Sciences Unit, MATRADE sees the ALW as a platform to grow Malaysian lifestyle sector by capitalising on the influence of ASEAN and its economic community. “The lifestyle sector is a growing segment in Malaysia’s trade and brings about not only economic values but social values too. This region, with a market size of 630 million people is the world’s seventh largest economy and has a strong purchasing power,” he said.

In 2017, Malaysia’s exports of lifestyle products or also known as soft exports registered a 4.1 per cent increase to reach RM39.18 billion as compared to the previous year. Main lifestyle exports include textiles, apparels & footwear which rose by 10.4 percent (RM15.33 billion), followed by furniture which recorded a growth of 6.4 percent (RM10.14 billion). The main export destination for Malaysia’s lifestyle sector include the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Japan and Australia. A total of RM15.42 billion of lifestyle products were exported for the first 5 months this year.

For ASEAN market, Malaysia exported RM10.36 billion of lifestyle products in 2017 with the growth of 9.5 per cent compared to previous year. Singapore remained as the top export destination with export value at RM5.57 billion followed by Thailand and Indonesia with RM1.38 billion and RM1.18 billion respectively. In the past 5 months this year, Malaysia exported a total of RM4.21 billion to this particular market.

The inaugural ALW is expected to attract 20,000 trade representatives and consumers. The event will also feature segments as follows:

  • Alternative Medicines
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Children’s Education
  • Consumer Products
  • Entertainment
  • Fashion Goods/Jewellery/Accessories
  • Food Products
  • Furniture/Home Décor/Home Living
  • Health
  • Hobbies & Recreation
  • Leisure
  • Lifestyle Technology Trends
  • Photography
  • Soft Furnishing
  • Spa & Wellness
  • Sports/Gear/Gadget/Fitness Equipment
  • Travel & Tourism

With a theme, “Delivering Wholesome Solutions”, the exhibition will be held in conjunction with the prestigious Piala Seri Endon Batik Design Competition (PSE) under the auspices of the Malaysia Batik - Crafted for the World Movement, which is under the patronage of Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, the 5th Prime Minister of Malaysia. The PSE is also organised by PENYAYANG.

To kickstart the promotion of the ALW 2018, the ALW website (www.aseanlifestyleweek.com) has been launched as a medium to disseminate information to the exhibitors, visitors and lifestyle industry players.