HANNOVER: The Hannover Industrial Fair, the world’s largest industrial show for manufacturing and technology, was jointly inaugurated by Chinese Premier Wei along and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.
Many Malaysian exhibitors were asking if Malaysia could learn from China’s strategy and organise a similar show at Hannover where the entire world descends to show its industrial prowess.
For five days beginning April 27, China basked in the limelight of the world’s media glare.
“Why does Malaysia not organise a similar participation at Hannover? China and India, both huge markets with large industrial bases, have each had partner country participations twice.
“Japan, Turkey and South Korea also each had one partner country participation.
“Why not Malaysia which has an impressive array of products and services? Besides, it would uplift Malaysia’s image if leading German politicians attend the show,” argued one Malaysian exhibitor from Penang.
There were 25 Malaysian exhibitors showcasing a wide range of products and services at the just-concluded trade fair.
Indeed, Malaysia’s participation as a ‘partner country’ was raised by many other exhibitors as well.
CY Fong, the executive director of the Petaling Jaya-based Edaran Anfas (M) Sdn Bhd, which represents the Hannover trade organising company, Deutsche Messe, in Malaysia, agreed that such a participation offered many benefits to the ‘partner country’.
“For one, the country gets good publicity from the day it is declared a partner country until its actual participation.
“The country also has enough time to work at high-level political visits from Malaysia. As you saw, German Chancellor Merkel was personally at the inauguration with Chinese Premier Wei.
“This has, obviously, given China a strong and powerful visibility worldwide,” Fong told Bernama at the Hannover fair.
He said ‘partner countries’ also stood to benefit as an investment destination. This had been observed in the case of China and other countries.
“Malaysia has excellent support services and abilities.
People around the world would get a better understanding of Malaysia’s industrial prowess besides facilitating Malaysia’s exports.
“Indeed, investments to Malaysia have been declining and this could provide an impetus to companies seeking investment opportunities.
“China, for example, has opened up the Chinese industry and has become a top investment destination. Perhaps, the Malaysian government may one day consider a partner country presentation for Malaysia’s industry at this gigantic platform in Hannover,” Fong said.
Mohd Sabri Abdul Rahman, the Malaysian Trade Commissioner to Germany, said that Malaysia might one day consider a ‘partner country’ participation at Hannover.
“As of now, there is no such plan (to organise a ‘partner country’ participation) but, maybe, at some point in the future, Malaysia may consider it.
“Our immediate plan, however, is to further increase the number of exhibitors at this show and we should be able to muster more numbers in the future,” Sabri added.
Oliver Frese, Deutsche Messe senior vice-president, said there were some criteria to be met for a country to qualify for partner country participation.
“There has to be the political will on the part of the country to organise such a participation.
There has, of course, to be an adequate number of exhibitors from that country.
“The country making such a bid also must have demonstrated its technological prowess.
And, finally, we have to see if and when this can be organised, keeping in mind that others might be waiting in the queue for a similar participation,” Frese said.
Meanwhile, figures received from the Malaysian trade commissioner in Frankfurt suggested that all the Malaysian exhibitors were ‘satisfied’.
The 13 companies participating under the umbrella of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation bagged cumulative sales of RM8.14 million. — Bernama