PKNS Helps 30 Entrepreneurs Penetrate Japanese Market With Osaka Expo Participation

SHAH ALAM, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- A total of 30 entrepreneurs under the guidance of the Entrepreneur Development Division (BPU) of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) will have the opportunity to penetrate the Japanese market by participating in the 2025 Osaka World Expo, scheduled from April 13 to Oct 13.

This initiative is a strategic step taken by PKNS following an injection of RM2 million in funding from SME Corp Malaysia to implement the Export Acceleration Programme (EAP) as part of efforts to strengthen export-oriented entrepreneurs in the global market.

In a statement, PKNS said the exchange ceremony for the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between PKNS, represented by Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (Corporate) Suhaimi Haji Kasdon, and SME Corp, represented by Chief Executive Officer Rizal Nainy, was held during the launch of SME Ventures 2025 at a hotel in the federal capital recently.

The EAP programme will focus on preparing entrepreneurs, certification, market trials, product marketability and business matching sessions with suppliers, retailers and the HORECA (Hotels, Restaurants and Catering) sector in Japan. Participants will undergo specialised modules to ensure their products successfully penetrate the Japanese market.

This collaboration is in line with PKNS’s aspirations to empower local entrepreneurs and make them more competitive at the international level, the statement read. 

Through this initiative, PKNS will leverage available resources to guide entrepreneurs into the retail sector, particularly in Japan and other countries, thereby strengthening their position internationally.

PKNS said that with participation in the 2025 Osaka World Expo, entrepreneurs from various business sectors such as food and beverage, cosmetics, health, personal care, fashion, raw materials, livestock, green technology, fertilisers and more will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services on the global stage.

All participants will be directed to the right platforms, including raw material supply to factories in Japan, retail sectors, e-commerce, influencer marketing, key opinion leaders, affiliate programmes and supplier networks.

“This move not only expands market opportunities but also opens up potential for investment and more strategic, high-impact business collaborations,” PKNS said. 

It said the choice of Japan as the main focus for this programme was driven by its position as a member of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), both of which offer various opportunities in international trade.

In addition, access to the Japanese market presents opportunities for Malaysia to strengthen its service sector, attract investment and empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

“With its dynamic economy and high demand, Japan serves as a strategic platform for local entrepreneurs to compete globally,” PKNS said. 

-- BERNAMA