Ipoh centre a boost for trade relations with China

2009/11/09

IPOH: Trade and economic activities between Perak and China are expected to improve with the setting of a trade centre here by a group of entrepreneurs from Wenzhou in Zhejiang province, East China.

Wenzhou is well known for manufacturing consumer goods including electrical appliances, toys, shoes and furniture.

Perak menteri besar's adviser on Chinese affairs, Datuk Chang Ko Youn, said the entrepreneurs had also set up trade centres in Dubai, Madrid and the United States and were now looking at Southeast Asia and the Indian sub-continent.

"They had visited several potential locations in Vietnam and several states in Malaysia, but found Ipoh as the ideal and strategic choice for their goods to be marketed," Chang told reporters here yesterday.

The idea to open up the centre came about after a delegation from the state and Perak Chinese Assembly Hall visited Wenzhou in 2006.

The state government had identified the Super Kinta Shopping Complex, with 12,000 sq m of floor space, to open up the centre and the entrepreneurs had also visited the location.

The complex, owned by the Ipoh City Council, had been abandoned for the last five years.

"We are negotiating with the council on the terms and conditions.

"The state will also offer some incentives for them to open up the centre," Chang said.

As a prelude to the opening of the centre, an exhibition will be held at Stadium Indera Mulia here from March 28 to 31 next year.

Some 300 manufacturers from Wenzhou are expected to exhibit their products.