Les' Copaque Production Expand Its Business To China

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Les' Copaque Production Sdn Bhd has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Hong Kong-based Nicecrown International Ltd to secure projects related to the use of 'Upin & Ipin' brand in China. In a statement Friday, the animation studio said, the agreement, which was made under the 'One Belt, One Road (OBOR)' programme, would see Nicecrown Int as the representative and facilitator in managing any agreement to implement the projects. "It includes the building of Upin & Ipin theme parks in Shanghai and Ürümqi in China, with cost amounting to RM40.7 billion (US$1 = RM4.06) and one theme park in Malaysia, with an estimated cost of US$20 billion. "The project will also showcase and promote Les' Copaque's intellectual property as well as identifying local television station and cinema network to screen its animation series there. "Nicecrown Int will also develop businesses comprising merchandise, licensing and restaurants, among others, in the Chinese market," it said. In April 2016, Les' Copaque was invited by the Chinese government, through the China World National Culture Promotion Society and Malaysia Enterprise Investment Association, to expand its business there under the OBOR programme. The OBOR programme focused on building connectivity and infrastructure to build and strengthen economic linkages to the economic circles of 65 countries that were involved in this initiative. "With the signing of the MOA, Les' Copaque has succeeded to become the first Malaysian global player to penetrate the Chinese market as a whole and will open doors to other creative industry players from this country," it said. Upin & Ipin is a Malaysian television series of animated shorts produced by Les' Copaque Production, which features the life and adventures of the eponymous twin brothers in a fictional Malaysian village. --BERNAMA