MATRADE TO BOOST TRADE RELATIONS WITH OSAKA BPC MEMBERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 -- Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is leveraging on its connections with Osaka Business Partner City Council (BPC) to enhance trade relations with nine member cities of Osaka BPC.

In a statement, MATRADE said it also obtained insights on World Expo 2025 in Osaka by organising a roundtable meeting with business leaders from the member cities.

Osaka BPC is an initiative by the Osaka City government to promote partnership with other cities through the formation of an economic network in the Asia-Pacific region in 1988.

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MATRADE said the cooperation with BPC began when it signed a memorandum of understanding with Osaka City on Oct 21, 1994.

“Since then, Osaka City and MATRADE have been conducting numerous exchange activities such as roundtable meetings, seminar, business meetings, networking reception, training and others," MATRADE added.

In March this year, MATRADE officers were invited to take part in Osaka City's BPC training programme.

Osaka City also selected a Malaysian company to participate in the “Hack Osaka” event, a global innovation conference. In September, Osaka City hosted five Malaysian companies for a business-to-business meeting session in conjunction with the Tokyo Game Show (TGS). 

“This active synergy with Osaka City is reflective of the close relationship between Malaysia and Japan.

"With the BPC, we have a vehicle to champion various collaborations between industry players in both countries while at the same time establishing more trade cooperations with member cities of BPC,” MATRADE chief executive officer Datuk Wan Latiff Wan Musa said.

He said the BPC Roundtable Meeting would not only allow Malaysia to exchange views and share information on industry 4.0 with Japan but also learn from other cities about developments associated with the fourth industrial revolution.

"This can be a catalyst for various business collaborations. This effort is also to prepare Malaysian companies for World Expo 2025 that will be hosted by Osaka,” he added.

He said MATRADE aimed to intensify its promotion of Malaysia’s exports in Osaka, known for Small and Medium Enterprises.

"With a total population of 8.82 million, accounting for approximately seven per cent of Japan’s total population of 126.3 million, there is a long list of successful companies originating from Osaka, the likes of Panasonic, Suntory, Kaneka, Mizuno, Itochu and Sharp," Wan Latiff said.

-- BERNAMA