KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has brought onboard 13 Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in a recent virtual Export Acceleration Mission (EAM) to Surabaya, Indonesia, in an effort to help them sustain their businesses and operations during the pandemic.

       In a statement, the agency said the EAM to Indonesia’s second largest city, which took place from Sept 20 to 22, 2021, provided an opportunity for the companies to expand their brands’ footprint in the market and build a business partnership with Indonesia’s business community.

       "A total of 76 business meetings were arranged with more than RM49.3 million of potential sales recorded. Blibli.com, one of the top five e-commerce platforms in Indonesia, was among the leading partners seeking collaboration with Malaysian companies during the programme," it said.

       Briefing sessions through a webinar were also organised in collaboration with Indonesian authorities to equip Malaysian companies with relevant information on business and product registrations and entry requirements for the Indonesian market.

       MATRADE director of ASEAN and Oceania section, Raja Badrulnizam Raja Kamalzaman, said Indonesia offers a huge market potential and business opportunities in nearly all economic sectors with a population of more than 260 million people.

       "Shifting in consumption patterns among the Indonesian consumers is visible, as increasing interest for global products and services imported from all over the world, including Malaysia, can be seen throughout the country," he said.

       He noted with the new norms where business is no longer as usual, the response received from buyers in Indonesia indicates that there is still strong demand for Malaysian products and services.

       "With the young and rising middle class population in Indonesia driving the buying trend, Malaysian companies could leverage on various cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Blibli.com and Bukalapak to access the Indonesian market without having a physical presence in the country," he added. - Bernama