SDSI 2016 Rakes In US$6.19 Million

MELAKA, Malaysia, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- The national level one district one industry (SDSI) 2016 showcase earned US$6.19 million (RM27.6 million) in four days after its launch on Thursday at Melaka International Trade Centre, Ayer Keroh here. Chief Minister Idris Haron said the 11th sale event participated by 500 local and foreign exhibitors also earned RM7.4 million from the incoming buying mission through which local companies get to meet potential trade partners from different countries. "This shows that more and more small and medium industry (SMI) entrepreneurs are joining the programme which could enhance their knowledge, skill and competency in managing their business besides developing the state economy towards the globalisation and liberalisation era. "This product development-based and service programme which has a local identity that can be commercialised up to the global level also received 149,000 visitors nationwide," he said. He told reporters this after officiating the closing of the SDSI 2016 showcase here last night, which was also attended by International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Ahmad Maslan. The programme is an annual event introduced in 2006 and aimed at developing and guiding local entrepreneurs to become a supply chain under multinational companies including in Saudi Arabia, China, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Meanwhile, Ahmad said there were currently 645,000 registered SMI entrepreneurs throughout the country, of which 37 per cent or more than 238,000 were bumiputera, including micro entrepreneurs. "Twenty thousand of them are already exporting their products and 10,000 are listed in established international platforms such as Alibaba," he said. (US$1 = RM4.45) -- BERNAMA