By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Sept 2: Products sold under the Buy Malaysian Product Campaign (KBBM) on online marketplace platforms increased tremendously in 2020 with sales of more than RM145 million compared to only RM6.84 million in 2019.
Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) secretary-general Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad also reported that it was further strengthened when a total of 326,000 stock keeping units (SKU) of local products had been marketed on various retail platforms compared to 279,000 SKU in 2019.
“This collaboration generated RM3.3 billion in sales for the retail sector in 2020 compared to RM2.87 billion in 2019.
“For 2021, KPDNHEP will continue this campaign based on last year’s performance with additional, and a variety of approaches,” he said during the virtual pre-launching of KBBM today.
KBBM, he pointed out, is carried out as one of the ministry’s initiatives to help the recovery and revitalisation of the retail sector in the country by helping local entrepreneurs to remain competitive in the face of current economic challenges.
“This is because the Covid-19 pandemic that has hit the country since March last year has had a negative impact on and affected most local enterprises.
“The KBBM initiative is seen to be able to increase domestic demand, especially to strengthen supply chain networks,” he added.
Hasnol elaborated that this year’s campaign has grown with increased involvement of strategic partners from the retail sector.
Among KBBM’s strategic partners in the retail sector this year are AEON Big, AEON Co., Giant, Mydin, 99 Speedmart, The Store, Hero Supermarket, KK Supermarket, Eco-shop, Lotus Store, Econsave, Lulu Group, TF Value-Mart , Bataras, Petronas and Shell. The online platforms (marketplace) are joined by Shopee, Lazada and PG Mall.
In addition, he said that the campaign will also be promoted through various channels including print media, electronic media and digital platforms to give greater exposure to local products.
This promotion will be further strengthened through strategic collaborations and special collaborations with stakeholders who have their own followers or influencers such as through advertisements, the Upin and Ipin animation series and various other high-impact cross-collaboration programmes.
“KPDNHEP hopes that KBBM will bring direct benefits to the consumers through special price offers for locally produced goods. In addition, this campaign can continue to help increase sales of local entrepreneurs’ products as well as strengthen the country’s economy.
“In conjunction with the month of Merdeka and the National Day celebration, KPDNHEP calls on Malaysians to show patriotism by prioritising Malaysian products of comparable quality with imported products,” Hasnol added.
KPDNHEP called on the public to continue to support and buy Malaysian products and together with the government to revive the country’s economy post-Covid-19. — DayakDaily
