ALOR SETAR: The Kedah government aims to help its local entrepreneurs penetrate the Southern Thailand market and help them boost their business.
Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh, who is the state Health, Rural Development and Government-Linked Companies Committee chairman, said Kedah wants local entrepreneurs to broaden their horizons in terms of exploring new markets.
“Kedah is a border state and we have communities with families on both sides of the border. Our close proximity with our neighbour Thailand is an advantage.
“Local entrepreneurs should think about entering the Southern Thailand market and test their products there. Gain a foothold and then expand northward from there,” he said at the Kedah Global Gateway event launch, held at the Hotel Seri Malaysia here today.
The Kedah Global Gateway programme is organised by MARA, MATRADE and SME Corp to help entrepreneurs in Kedah secure a place in the Southern Thailand market.
Thailand’s Pattani district’s Asean Mall has agreed to help Malaysian businesses open up stores in the mall or test their products there first.
The mall’s co-partner is Kuala Lumpur-based Uniti Asia Group (UAG), which will provide the platform for local businesses to promote their goods in the mall and open booths for exhibitions.
UAG President Datuk Jamal Mohd Amin was also present the event to offer guidance and advice to small businesses on the prospects of the markets in Southern Thailand.
“There is a huge potential for local products to enter the market there because of our shared language and culture. Halal products are big there and with this programme, we can get more Kedah businesses interested,” he said.
More than 100 entrepreneurs registered for the event.
