MATRADE Reaching Out Digitally Through Engagement with Osaka BPC Members
TUESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2021, KUALA LUMPUR: The global pandemic has never stopped MATRADE as the National Trade Promotional Agency, to strive its best in providing services and assistance to its clients and stakeholders. MATRADE through the invitation by the City of Osaka and Osaka City Business Partner City Council (BPC), participated in an Online BPC Roundtable on 4th February 2021. Responding to the travel restrictions and lockdown in many countries due to COVID-19, the Osaka Business Partner City Council organized the Roundtable meeting in a digital format. This marks the first online edition of BPC Roundtable since its establishment 20 years ago. The Roundtable serves as a good platform for BPC members to network and connect with each other to exchange ideas and share good practices as well as support one another in specific businesses.
With the theme “COVID-19â€, over 60 representatives from 14 organizations, comprising 11 business partner cities joined the online BPC Roundtable from different parts of the world with different time zones to update each other about the COVID-19 situation, including how each city adapt to the challenging environment with innovative solutions.
“Members from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Shanghai, Mumbai, Melbourne, Tianjin, Hamburg including Osaka provided insightful information on the challenges and measures taken in facing COVID-19. We hope that our members enjoyed getting together to learn from each other and discuss possible collaboration. We are very happy that we could meet everyone online, but would love to see everyone face to face again soon!†said the Mr. Michiteru Kashiwagi, Director General, Economic Strategy Bureau, Osaka City Government.
MATRADE was represented by Mr. Edison Choong Wan Sern, Deputy Director of China & Northeast Asia Section, whereby he has shared the various initiatives taken by Malaysian government through MATRADE’s exporters development and export promotion programmes, designed to help companies, SMEs in particular, during this pandemic era. Facilitating global business in line with digitalization and pragmatic tools used in sync with the next norm are part of MATRADE’s assistance to Malaysian exporters, which consist of manufacturers, traders, retailers, franchisors and entrepreneurs.
In 2020, MATRADE conducted numerous web-based activities, such as webinars, online conference, virtual exhibition and virtual business matching. To keep the momentum of business alive, in 2021, MATRADE will mobilise the business community in over 300 platforms such as the most prominent international halal event, Malaysia Halal International Halal Showcase (MIHAS). The BPC Roundtable participants were invited to support Malaysia in MIHAS 2021 to reignite international trade and realign the global value chain.
Besides MATRADE, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, YBhg. Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah also participated in the online Roundtable by sharing information on sustaining local economy in Kuala Lumpur and the socio-economic support provided to address the impact of pandemic such as digital infrastructure and platforms.
MATRADE has 46 global network offices around the globe to promote Malaysia’s exports. For more information on export opportunities, Malaysian companies can contact MATRADE office at .
