S’pore market serves benchmark for M’sian SMEs

SINGAPORE: If Malaysian small medium enterprises (SMEs) can penetrate the Singapore market, then they can stamp their mark in any other overseas venture.

This is the benchmark set by former Ministry of International Trade and Industry ( Mit i) advisor, Datuk Abdul Hadi Othman, to those local SMEs who want to market their products overseas.

“Every country has its own trade conditions and Singapore is no exception. The reality is, the republic has set high standards in accepting the products of other countries.

“As such, if we can penetrate the Singapore market, it means the products of our SMEs are good enough to take on the challenge of the markets of other countries as well,” he said.

Abdul Hadi told Bernama this when met after heading the twoday Halal Food Products Trade Mission to Singapore from Feb 24.

The mission was organised by the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce ( DPIM) in cooperation with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation ( Matrade).

The t rade dele g at ion comprised 27 participants from 19 companies, cooperatives and agencies.

Also present was the DPIM Kuala Lumpur exco member for international trade, Mohd Ridzuan Abdul Rahman and Matrade’s Southern Regional Off ice director, Raphy Md Radzi.

Abdul Hadi also called for closer cooperation between business partners such as the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI) to break into the republic’s halal market.

“The SMCCI has expressed its readiness to assist business partners in Malaysia anytime.

It is therefore up to those business partners to take the first step,” he added.

Among the SMEs which part icipated in the trade mission were PedasHalalPark Distribution Sdn Bhd, Healviver Sdn Bhd, Faiza Marketing Sdn Bhd, RGM Sdn Bhd, Al Ansar Health Sdn Bhd, Bumimasa Sdn Bhd, Miami Grill Malaysia, and Sri Talamaz.

The delegation was introduced to business entities and it included the largest supermarket chains in Singapore as Fair Price, Mustafa Wholesale Store and MyOutlets Global Halal Hub.

Other than the SMCCI, the delegation also met with the Singapore Islamic Religious Council and the Agri- Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore. — Bernama

Every country has its own trade conditions and Singapore is no exception. The reality is, the republic has set high standards in accepting the products of other countries.