PARTS MAKERS' PARTICIPATION AT IAAE A SUCCESS

From Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

TOKYO, March 16 (Bernama) -- The 8th International Auto After-Market Expo
2009 (IAAE 2009), which ended here Saturday, has successfully promoted the
Malaysian car parts makers by giving them an opportunity to further tap the
Japanese market.

Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) director in Malaysia, Tomoko
Fukada, said the event was a success and the results were much better compared
to last year.

"We are happy with the outcome of the business-matching session as keen
Japanese companies have asked for samples and quotations from the Malaysian
exhibitors," she told Bernama.

Fukada, however, said a follow-up to these negotiations was important to
ensure the end-result was favourable.

She said there were occasions in the past of miscommunication where the
Japanese companies e-mailed their Malaysian counterparts but received no
response.

"We hope the Malaysian makers continuously communicate with the Japanese
companies. Jetro will monitor and assist them to ensure both sides continue to
have a successful deal," she said.

Jetro, in collaboration with the Malaysian External Trade Development Corp,
is assisting Malaysian parts manufacturers at the exhibition by giving them an
opportunity to forge partnerships with Japanese firms.

Matrade trade commissioner in Japan, Yuslinawati Mohd Yusof, said "in
general when I talked to the exhibitors, they said they are happy especially
despite the current economic scenario, they still managed to get promising
buyers."

"In the wake of the current situation, the motor vehicle industry is badly
hit by the financial crisis and they don't expect to get so many enquiries but
good enough if they were able to get one or two promising visitors," she said.

Yuslinawati said the exhibitors were surprised that even in this current
economic situation the Japanese were still keen to look and show interest at
"our products".

The makers of rubber and plastic parts, fans, shock absorbers and batteries,
together with Proton Holdings Bhd, were invited by Jetro to showcase their
products at the Malaysian Auto Industry Exhibition taking place concurrently
with the IAAE 2009.

They are Mintye Industries Sdn Bhd, SKI Industry Sdn Bhd, Retro Etech
Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Fetta Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd, Schmaco Auto Parts
Industries Sdn Bhd, Pong Codan Rubber (M) Sdn Bhd, DRB-HICOM Bhd, Local Casting
Sdn Bhd, Malcorp, FBK Automotive Components Sdn Bhd and Sipro Plastics
Industries Sdn Bhd.

IAAE 2009, which was held at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, or
Tokyo Big Sight, had gather experts and representatives from car-related
businesses in Japan and worldwide to update each other and share views on the
business trends.

-- BERNAMA