Puteri harbour: The sales value of Malaysia's distributive trade sector increased to RM1.766 trillion in 2024, compared to RM1.674 trillion in the previous year, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali. He noted that the 5.5 percent increase indicates a sustainable and encouraging performance for the domestic distribution sector post-pandemic, offering opportunities for local products to penetrate the market more effectively.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Armizan highlighted the positive momentum this increase represents during a press conference after inaugurating the southern zone 'Jelajah Karnival KPDN 2025' and the launch of the Buy Malaysian Goods Campaign (KBBM) at the Puteri Harbour Convention Centre. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of KPDN Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, and Lee Ting Han, the chairman of the state Investment, Trade, Consumer Affairs, and Human Resources Committee.
Johor was chosen as the starting point for the 'southern zone 'Jelajah Karnival KPDN 2025, a three-day event running until June 29, following high visitor turnout in 2024 with 761,659 attendees. The tour will continue to five other zones, including the Northern Zone (Kedah), Eastern Zone (Pahang), Central Zone (Selangor), Sabah Zone, and Sarawak Zone, featuring consumer advocacy programs, local product promotions, and government agency exhibitions.
Armizan explained that KBBM 2025 aims to stimulate domestic economic growth and assist micro, small, and medium enterprises in expanding their market reach both locally and internationally. He emphasized the campaign's role in showcasing local products as preferred choices, thereby reducing reliance on imported goods.
KPDN recorded a sales value of over RM347 million through KBBM in 2023 and 2024, involving nearly 700,000 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) across major e-commerce platforms, including TikTok, Shopee, and Lazada. The initiative's implementation will follow a whole-of-nation approach through collaboration across ministries, agencies, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations.
At the KPDN level, the campaign involves strategic partnerships with the retail industry and e-commerce platforms and includes the Local to Global Retail program, which aims to expand the global market presence of local products. Armizan described the 'Jom Beli Lokal' campaign as a long-term policy to strengthen the country's overall economic security and noted the ministry's ambition to fill the growing market space with more local products.