KUALA LUMPUR: Sumimoto Corp's local unit, Sumisho Ecommerce Malaysia Sdn Bhd, has invested RM15.6 million to set up Soukai.my, an e-commerce platform targeting mainly the domestic consumers.
Soukai is an online shopping platform which offers a wide range of imported household products.
Sumisho chief executive officer, Tetsu Nagashima, said Soukai was set up to broaden its selection of imported products not widely available at other web stores and physical shops.
"We brought in the products from Japan as we foresee huge potentials in the local market. We are also looking at 10 per cent contribution from Malaysia to the regional market," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Soukai.my launching ceremony today.
Sumisho had forecast its regional revenue, including Japan, to reach 100 billion yen (100 yen = RM2.99).
Nagashima said Malaysia has achieved one per cent sales target since the opening of the portal in April this year.
He, however, declined to disclose the timeframe for the target.
Nagashima said the company was positive on the Malaysian market due to percentage of the Internet penetration rate and emerging online sales in the country.
"The country's Internet penetration stood at 60 per cent and 91 per cent of Internet users shop online," he said.
On outlook, he said, the company was keen to set up a warehouse in either Sabah or Sarawak as part of its strategic plan to deliver products nationwide.
Currently, the company has a warehouse in the Klang Valley to cater to Kuala Lumpur area as well as Penang and Johor Baru.
"We also plan to launch our own delivery service as we are now leveraging on the existing courier services in Malaysia. The delivery service and warehouse are expected to be launched by year-end," he said.-- Bernama