Malaysia’s lifestyle entrepreneurs eye global stage

Malaysia has many talented lifestyle entrepreneurs capable of moving onto the international stage.
Towards this end, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) is aggressively helping and supporting them, a Bernama report said.
Lifestyle sector director Abu Bakar Yusof said local entrepreneurs, especially in the lifestyle segment, had huge potential to promote their products globally, moreso with modest Islamic fashion and halal cosmetics fast gaining popularity.
“Lately, the export of fashion and lifestyle products has been very encouraging and Matrade conducted various programmes for local entrepreneurs, such as seminars, workshops, handholding and ‘going export’ programmes for exporters.
“There is also a Bumiputera, Women and Youth Exporters Development programme for three years, including the training of local entrepreneurs, in finding overseas markets,” he told Bernama at the Asia Islamic Fashion Week 2017 (AIFW 2017) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) on Saturday.
He said Matrade was also providing financial assistance to qualified small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the form of evouchers for reimbursement to companies.
Abu Bakar noted that Matrade had 36 trade and 11 marketing offices globally, including in England, France, China, United Arab Emirates, Australia, the United States and India, which helped in the promotion of local products.
AIFW 2017, which concluded yesterday, was designed as a trade event for showcasing the blend of modest fashion with cuttingedge styles withฌin the Islamic context.
Asia’s first Islamic fashion week in Malaysia has brought together 80 exhibitors from across the globe.
It is also a platform for sustainable and profitable Islamic fashion, covering lifestyle business networks and is open to traders and the public.
The event is supported by Matrade and SME Corp Malaysia in collaboration with the Islamic Fashion and Design Council.