Ministry to work with influencers in promoting local products

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living plans to collaborate with social media influencers to promote local products through the Malaysian Goods Carnival.

Datuk Rohaizi Bahari, senior director of the Trade, Distribution, and Business Sector, stated that this partnership will help raise awareness of new and lesser-known local products.

“The ministry is dedicated to expanding the popularity of Malaysian products and brands both domestically and internationally, not limited to certain items like food, drinks, and beauty products,” Rohaizi told reporters at the northern zone 2023 Malaysian Goods Mini Carnival Tour in Alor Setar.

The event, held at Aman Central Mall in Alor Setar over three days, features the participation of 20 entrepreneurs from the northern zone (Perlis, Penang, and Perak). It is part of the Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign 2023, an initiative by the ministry to encourage the prioritization of local products.

Syafiqah Sobri, owner of Zes Aneka Idaman Enterprise and a food product trader, expressed her appreciation for the carnival as an opportunity for local traders to showcase their goods.

She said, “Although I have been running my business since 2006, this is the first time I have participated in such a carnival. Before this, I was hesitant to promote my products because they didn’t look as good as others, partly due to the plain plastic packaging of my cookies.”

She added, “I believe influencers can assist in promoting local products. They already have a reputation, unlike small traders like us who lack experience in product promotion.”

Nor Haslina Mohd Pisol, the marketing manager for Diamond Cosmetics, sees the carnival as an opportunity to demonstrate that locally-produced goods by smaller businesses can match the quality of leading brands.

She said, “We have been selling health and beauty products since 2020, but they are still not well-known among Malaysians, despite their success in Singapore and Indonesia. Perhaps, with the assistance of influencers, we can accelerate the promotion of our products due to their large following.”

– Bernama