• (L-R) Dato’Jasmy Ismail, Director, Prisma Galeri Sdn Bhd, Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Mamat, Chairman, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation, Dr Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Gunther Beissel, Chief Executive Officer, MITEC and Dato’ Wan Latiff Wan Musa, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation at the official launch of the Smart Trade

Doing Business the smart way: Mitec Launches Smart Trade Zone

Kuala Lumpur, 21 February 2020 – The Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) is catalysing its way as a venue provider through the launch of the Smart Trade Zone (STZ) platform yesterday.

The occasion which was held in the premises of MITEC was joined by Dr Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Dato’ Wan Latiff Wan Musa, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Mamat, Chairman, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) and Dato’ Jasmy Ismail, Director, Prisma Galeri Sdn Bhd (PGSB).

The STZ platform is a facility that includes benefits for businesses to converge as well as assisting in harvesting new potential leads.

Representing the country’s largest exhibition centre, Chief Executive Officer of MITEC, Gunther Beissel said that the STZ initiative was mooted based on the needs of the industry and market.

“Tourism is a key contributing factor for the country’s overall economy as the third largest after Manufacturing and Commodities. We hope to use our capabilities in hosting business events as an avenue to facilitate and generate leads that help create opportunities for businesses, leading to more trade and investments for the country,” stated Beissel.

With MITEC as a major player in the business events industry, STZ also aims to use the venue as an opening to connect local with international players. To ensure such, STZ features a Smart Partners Programme which encourages alliances to use the platform to create opportunities for collaborations and partnerships, enable participation in business forums or consultations, global missions and ultimately facilitate data and resource sharing.

Another feature designed especially for STZ members is the STZ mobile app. Made available to all members, MITEC invested in an app with the confidence that the software will play an instrumental role as a gateway to a global market.

“What users can expect with this app is to have the ease of booking meeting spaces, review one’s events, generate QR codes as virtual business cards and also business matching on the upcoming e-Connect. From time to time, members can enjoy exclusive privileges, and for today, I am pleased to announce that members will be able to utilise the STZ facilities for free in the first six months of registration,” explained Beissel.

Speaking of STZ as a business strategy for MITEC, Beissel revealed that the Venue is banking on the platform as one of its sustainable revenue streams that presents a triple win situation between Venue, businesses and relevant authorities by connecting various parties.

Engaging business events as its core industry while integrating relevance into trade and investments, STZ is also in line with MITI’s focus to develop Industry 4.0, whereby six key industries are targeted including Technology, Auto Mechanic & Smart Manufacturing, Lifestyle & Tourism, Agriculture & Farming, as well as Environmental & Sustainability.

STZ has established its inaugural BizLab activities in partnership with MTDC to build and nurture new SME events relating to Industry 4.0. STZ has also secured other partnerships with CEMS Sdn Bhd as the first collaboration to start the inaugural Malaysia Travel and Tourism Mart (MTTM) for 2020 and Best Events Sdn Bhd for the coming Global Drone Conference Kuala Lumpur (GDKL) 2020.

In his closing remarks, Beissel said, “We are confident and certain with the current support garnered from local and international trade agency and association such as MATRADE, MyCEB, MTDC and EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the STZ is poised to become an even greater, attractive proposition and create more opportunities for cross-disciplinary and multi-sectorial trade collaborations”.

Connect with the team on STZ at stz@mitec.com.my and for more information on MITEC’s capability of hosting successful business events and the major potential of STZ, visit www.mitec.com.my or follow the Venue on social media (Facebook and LinkedIn – Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre; Instagram – @MITEC_my).