The Star, July 1, 2010

LOCAL small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the main engine of growth for the state and the Penang government will focus on helping them penetrate global markets.

Forums and seminars will no longer be the strategy to promote SMEs as the state wants to concentrate on matching the various industries with their potential markets, state Deputy Chief Minister I Mansor Othman said.

“We are already in negotiations with the Middle East, Taiwan, Thai- land and Indonesia to have our SMEs export their products there.

“We are actively looking for new markets for them to tap — it’s time for action. Enough of seminars and forums,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after witnessing the Memorandum of Un-derstanding signing between Husam Waksa Sdn Bhd and Terang Bulan Food Industries Sdn Bhd at the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) on Tuesday.

Mansor, who is also the Industrial Development, International Trade, Co-operative and Community Relations Committee chairman, said the MoU between Husam Waksa and Terang Bulan resulted from the committee’s business matching programme.

He said the objective of the programme was to open up more opportunities for SMEs to market their products internationally.

Pasaraya Pendang executive director Mohd Shakri Abd. Rahman, who will be organising a trade show for traders in Southern Thailand, said the quality of Malaysian products were good but the problem was that local manufacturers did not know how or where to market their pro-ducts.

“We will be showcasing more than RM600,000 worth of Malaysian products in Patani from July 30 to Aug 1 during the Mini Karnival Sila-turahim dan Perdagangan Antarabagsa (Korsep 2010).

“The aim is to introduce our local products and encourage networking with our neighbours,” he said, adding that some 30 companies from Kedah and Penang would be participating in the expo.

Those interested have until July 10 to register.

For details call 04-7321812 (Ahmad Fuad).