SUBANG JAYA: Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd, Malaysia's largest halal wholesaler and retailer, launched its "Proudly Made Local" initiative today at its USJ branch, coinciding with the "Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign 2024" (KBBM).
In partnership with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN), this initiative aims to empower local entrepreneurs through various promotions and activities designed to boost sales and promote local products.
The event was officiated by Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh, who stressed the significance of this collaboration between KPDN and Mydin.
She highlighted its role in the Local Entrepreneur Product Empowerment Initiative under KBBM.
"This initiative is vital for promoting local products, raising awareness among Malaysians, and ensuring easy access to these products in selected supermarkets," she said.
Fuziah said the success of the KBBM initiative in 2023, saw a 103.2 per cent increase in sales, reaching RM5.51 billion.
This positive trend is expected to continue in 2024.
She said that continued collaboration between the government, private sector, and businesses was essential in strengthening the domestic trade ecosystem and supporting entrepreneurs' growth.
Looking ahead, Fuziah said a focus on the "Local to Global" programme for small industries, was designed to help them enter international markets.
Mydin managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin expressed the importance in leveraging government-driven platforms like KBBM for entrepreneurs.
"The government offers various incentives and grants, and a proactive approach is key to advancing businesses," he said.
The "Proudly Made Local" initiative aims to instil pride in local products and boost entrepreneurs' confidence in the quality of their offerings.
"Confidence in your product is essential for gaining consumer trust," Ameer said.
He also called on the government, corporations, and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to prioritise local products in their assistance programmes, such as food box donations, to support local businesses' growth.
The initiative included the presentation of certificates to local entrepreneurs for their contributions to the inclusion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) products.
Mydin also contributed RM500 purchase vouchers to 40 small traders through its Mydin Prihatin "Extend a Hand" initiative.
During the launch, Mydin unveiled its new corporate song, "Di Mata Dunia" (In the Eyes of the World), composed by Amirah Ali, with lyrics by Shah Shamshiri and performed by local singer Ayu Damit.
To celebrate, the "Proudly Made Local" Sales Carnival will take place from Dec 19 to 22 at Mydin USJ, providing local entrepreneurs with the opportunity to promote their products.
On Dec 20, an Entrepreneurship Seminar will feature successful entrepreneurs sharing insights on staying competitive.
For more information on the ongoing campaign, which runs until Dec 31, the public can visit Mydin Malaysia's official social media pages.