The purpose of the trade mission was to introduce the investment opportunities available in the state, and especially targeted Indonesia’s small and medium enterprises.
Invest Selangor have five high growth sectors that they are focusing on as future investment drivers to sustain its economic growth – Electrical and Electronics, Transport Equipment, Life Sciences, Food & Beverages, Machinery & Equipment.
With such a push in the Indonesian market, Invest Selangor Chief Executive Officer Hasan Azhari Idris said they were hoping to boost the level of investment by Indonesian businesses in Selangor.
“Since 1987, about 36 manufacturing projects from Indonesia were approved in Selangor with a total investment of RM408.35 million, creating a potential of 4,259 job opportunities. Most of these investments were in the manufacturing of food & beverages, cosmetics and beauty care.
“I would like to encourage more of Indonesia’s SMEs to invest in the state as Selangor provides incentive tax exemption up to five years in the five sectors,” he said.
Hasan pointed to the great infrastructure on all fronts – sea, air, ground and even Internet connectivity – that made Selangor an ideal platform for many businesses and economic endeavours to thrive.
Some of the activities during Invest Selangor’s trade mission to Indonesia included a seminar at the Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Marketing Services Board (Smesco), attended by 200 Indonesian entrepreneurs; a dialogue session with entrepreneurs from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Kadin); and a meeting with the Director of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprise (KUKM Indonesia).
Selangor International Expo
Another purpose of the Invest Selangor trade mission was to encourage participation by Indonesian investors at the second Selangor International Expo, scheduled from October 20-22 this year at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan.
“This year, the Selangor Government is gearing up for an even bigger event with 700 booths being offered focusing on key industry sectors covering halal products and services, life sciences and e-commerce start-ups.
“Indonesian entrepreneurs will get the benefit by congregating with various companies from the halal products and services, life sciences and e-commerce start-up industries and present their specialties to trade visitors from Malaysia and also neighbouring countries,” Hasan said.
Thirty Indonesian corporations had shown interest to participate in the Selangor International Expo and more were expected to do so by the end of this month, especially those in halal-related businesses as Selangor stood out for its Halal Centre among multi-national organisations.
According to Invest Selangor, last year’s Selangor International Expo attracted around 40 Indonesian entrepreneurs representing the various industries in Indonesia.
“The Selangor International Expo 2016 is an ideal platform for multinational companies, local and foreign, as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to connect, collaborate to doing business, produce and exhibit their products and services to date.
“It is the state’s largest business event in Selangor’s trade and investment calendar as more intense emphasis and efforts are being placed on high-technology and capital-intensive industries to enable both the private and public sectors to work in sync towards making Selangor a ‘Smart State’,” Hasan said.
Aside from Indonesia, Invest Selangor has been busy over the past four months, engaging with potential investors among businesses and various industry players in 20 cities across Australia, Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, the USA, the Middle-East, Japan, India and China.
These meetings-cum-networking sessions present what the state has to offer, besides cultivating choice partnerships and networking with potential investors, companies and even local chambers of commerce.