This post was written by Sarah Rees

MANY MALAYSIANS ARE FORGING AHEAD IN THE WORLD OF LOCAL BUSINESS, BUT EVEN ENTREPRENEURS NEED A LITTLE HELP AT TIMES. SARAH REES MEETS THE TEAM BEHIND A WONDERFUL RESOURCE IDEALLY SUITED TO ASSIST COMPANIES SEEKING TO MAKE A MOVE INTO THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET.

“Time isof the essence isbusiness, as is money,” says Dato’ Dzulkilfi Mahmud, the Senior Director of the Exporters Development Division at MATRADE. In his line of work he encounters a multitude of businesses and he is well aware of the challenges facing them, especially those considering the leap into international trade. “Many businesses can’t afford to spend money on buying information, and yet it is is key to succeeding in the international market.”

Sadly, this catch-22-type dilemma has prevented many burgeoning businesses from “going global” with their Malaysian products and services, but this need not be the case. The iconic Menara MATRADE houses a well-stocked, brilliant resource that is ready to be used by entrepreneurs, local company owners and researchers.

BUSINESS INFORMATION CENTRE

“We have the best business library in Malaysia,” explains Dato’ Dzulkilfi as he welcomes me into the spacious facility located on the second floor of the MATRADE building. “It is a knowledge library, and the place where companies can source information on everything from the trends of the consumer to the national market in the countries they aretargeting. Anything we don’t have, we can get; if a company wants a survey, we will obtain one and cover the cost.”

The Business Information Centre (BIC), to go by its formal name – “library makes people feel they are students again!” quips Dato’ Dzulkilfi – operates by linking up to 40 offices worldwide who supply up-to-date information about market trends, consumers, prices, and foreign competitors, including market reports and all the latest trade statistics. Not only are the shelves of the BIC stacked with books, periodicals, and ring-bound folders, the virtual resources are staggeringly comprehensive too. At a few clicks of the mouse, companies can view the buying trends, the import and export of various products in various countries across a whole range of industries, and gain information that is deemed vital to successfully launching themselves onto the international trade scene.

“We are trying to prepare companies to face the challenges abroad,” continues Dato’ Dzulkilfi. “We want Malaysian companies to be able to compete in terms of knowledge, and they can gain a huge advantage if they are better prepared and understand the client’s needs.”

Another way in which MATRADE supports local entrepreneurs is through their events. “We run around 60 training programmes every year,” explains Dato’ Dzulkilfi, “and nearly all of them are free.” MATRADE hook up with industry experts and take them around the country to host talks as well as answering queries that business may have.

“We recently flew over a US expert on food and drugs importing,” he continues. “It is our responsibility to ensure local companies are well-equipped for the world of international trade.”

STEPS TO SUCCESS

Promoting international trade is the beating heart of MATRADE – the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation – and the group is funded by the government and works in conjunction with Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to enhance foreign trade as a way of helping the country along its path to becoming a high income nation by 2020. But promoting Malaysia and its products isn’t a solution in itself, and a facility like the BIC gives businesses the resources they need to succeed on their own as, after all, self-sufficiency is the only way entrepreneurs can survive in the competitive trading world. Within the BIC, business people have access to all manner of resources that can help them succeed when they take their first steps into the international market, and all is housed within a comfortable, welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment.

STEP INSIDE

The BIC can be used free by all companies who are registered with MATRADE (and its free to register), while non-Malaysians or researchers can use the facilities for just RM100 per year, or RM20 per day. Once inside the large roomy area, the comfortable chairs and smiling staff make the experience an enjoyable one, and there is always someone on hand to assist first-timers in finding what they need.

The stacks are divided by continent and then by country, so locating resources is a breeze, and a multitude of chairs and tables allow for people to take their time to absorb the information they have located. Anyone keen to host a business meeting can book one of the chic meeting rooms that come in a variety of sizes, ensuring that buyers can be met in impressive surroundings without breaking the budget, as the rooms are free to hire.

Dato’ Dzulkilfi and the team are well-aware that companies are spread throughout Malaysia, so those that can’t easily access the KL-based facility can email the BIC team to request information, while all members receive fortnightly email blasts updating them on news, events, and changes in the market via MATRADE Online News and Trade Leads.

By arming themselves with the most up-to-date information available, local companies can make the dream of moving into the competitive global market a reality. “Whatever you are doing, even if you are just going on holiday, information and knowledge are vitally important,” stresses Dato’ Dzulkilfi as he bids me farewell, and I watch a group of local entrepreneurs making their way through the shining doors of the BIC, ready to embark on their own pursuit of knowledge and success in this fabulous facility.

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Business Information Centre
Level 2, Menara MATRADE
Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Kuala Lumpur
Web: www.matrade.gov.my
Tel: +603.6207 7457

Open: Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm;
Friday 9am-12.15pm, 2.45pm-5pm
(closed weekends and public holidays)

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Source: Senses of Malaysia Nov-Dec 2012

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