The Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) is catalysing its way as a venue provider through the launch of the Smart Trade Zone (STZ) platform. 

The STZ officially opened for operation in February 2020 as a facility that includes benefits for businesses to converge as well as assisting in harvesting new potential leads. 

Representing the country’s largest exhibition centre, Chief Executive Officer of MITEC, Gunther Beissel said that the STZ initiative was mooted based on the needs of the industry and market. 

“Tourism is a key contributing factor for the country’s overall economy as the third-largest after Manufacturing and Commodities. We hope to use our capabilities in hosting business events as an avenue to facilitate and generate leads that help create opportunities for businesses, leading to more trade and investments for the country,” stated Beissel. 

With MITEC as a major player in the business events industry, the STZ also aims to use the venue as an opening to connect locals with international players. To ensure such, the STZ features a Smart Partners Programme which encourages alliances to use the platform to create opportunities for collaborations and partnerships, enable participation in business forums or consultations, global missions and ultimately facilitate data and resource sharing. 

Another feature designed especially for the STZ members is the STZ mobile app. Made available to all members, MITEC invested in an app with the confidence that the software will play an instrumental role as a gateway to a global market. 

“What users can expect with this app is to have the ease of booking meeting spaces, review one’s events, generate QR codes as virtual business cards and also business matching on the upcoming e-VConnect. Furthermore, from time to time, members can enjoy exclusive privileges,” explained Beissel.

Speaking of the STZ as a business strategy for MITEC, Beissel revealed that the Venue is banking on the platform as one of its sustainable revenue streams that presents a triple win situation between Venue, businesses and relevant authorities by connecting various parties for the benefit of SME development. 

Engaging business events as its core industry while integrating relevance into trade and investments, the STZ is also in line with the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI’s) focus to develop Industry 4.0, whereby six key industries are targeted including Technology, Auto Mechanic & Smart Manufacturing, Lifestyle & Tourism, Agriculture & Farming, as well as Environmental & Sustainability.

The recent product created through the STZ platform is the one-stop and integrated avenue for business consultation for Small Medium Enterprise (SME) which aims to provide a comprehensive service to facilitate the SMEs in all business activities by providing a conducive and “business-friendly’’ environment. The services offered to the SMEs inclusive of providing assistance, information, consultation, negotiations and business discussions. The integrated consulting centre offers booths and showrooms to governments’ agencies, private companies and associations, and business councils and foreign trade missions to showcase their products and related services to SMEs on a permanent basis.

“We are confident and certain with the current support garnered from local and international trade agency and association, the STZ is poised to become an even greater, attractive proposition and create more opportunities for cross-disciplinary and multi-sectorial trade collaborations and is perfectly position for economic stimulus post-COVID-19 “explained Beissel. 

The STZ Business Concept is also open for a franchise opportunity to different countries to form a strategic alliance that drives cross-border innovation and trade and investment business opportunities.