SAUJANA PUTRA, 26 June 2019 – China’s largest and world’s third largest (after Amazon and Alphabet, Google) online and offline retailer, JD.com is set to make its mark in Malaysia through its Growth Malaysia Pavilion on its JD Worldwide platform. Fifty Malaysian enterprises under F&B Connects have committed to onboard with JD.com through its structured retail solutions programme. The said Pavilion is part of the enterprise level initiative by the Productivity Nexus for Retail and F&B, Malaysia Productivity Corporation and supported by F&B Connects.
Consumer Affairs
The significant event was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, YB Chong Chieng Jen. The Deputy Minister was present to officiate the Nexus’ second Rockin’ Talk on Retail and F&B held at The Ballroom of Mahsa University. The said talk featured speakers such as Alexander Kremer, Senior Vice- President and Lionel Chen Jintian, Manager at JD.com, as well as a keynote by Datuk Wan Latif bin Wan Musa, the CEO of MATRADE.
JD.com is the world’s leading company in high tech and AI delivery through drones, autonomous technology and robots, and possesses the largest drone delivery system, infrastructure and capability in the world. It has recently started testing robotic delivery services and building drone delivery airports, as well as operating driverless delivery by unveiling its first autonomous truck.
The purpose of the event is to celebrate productivity best practice and success stories, and at the same time, heighten awareness of the initiatives under the said Productivity Nexus. The enterprises are encouraged to not only learn but to implement the various initiatives introduced.
Consumer Affairs
Panellists under the said event represent experts and experienced individuals from the sector such as Datuk Seri Garry Chua, President of Malaysia Retail Chain Association, Datuk Ringo Kaw, world renowned Chef and owner of Atmosphere360 and Asian Kitchen, Puan Chan Cheong, Director of G3 Global Bhd, which recently tied up with China’s Artificial Intelligence giant Sensetime, as well as F&B dynamo George Ang who has found success in reviving popular chain A&W Chain. The theme “Growing Beyond Borders” probes into successful formulae for global success, such strategies at brand building, systems and data, as well as partnership models.
The Second Panel witnessed young entrepreneur and co-founder Mr. Yeoh Chen Chow, Michael Teoh Su Lim, a youth icon, CK Chang who successfully established sales of millions within 2 months of launching his first online fashion business, and YFS CEO, Nicholas Chong who has recently dabbled in the bubble tea business, and celebrity entrepreneur Kent Chua.
The Rockin’ Talk’s method is informal and engaging, utilising music and concept to break down fixed mindsets and encourage enterprises to be open to innovation, sharing and people development. The Rock music and entertainment was provided by Minggu Musik Malaysia (MMM), which will hold their inaugural week-long music festival in September 2019 to promote and foster goodwill amongst the Malaysian music community and public in general. MMM is also engaging students from institutions to participate in the battle of the bands.
Participants are exposed to real life peers and industry experts who are able to share best practice either in creating global brands, putting innovation, culture and systems, sourcing funds, getting the right international talents, as well as scaling through digital platforms such global e-Market places and sharing economy platforms.
A talent development initiative to recruit, train and place students for internship or work in retail and F&B industry, known as “ClickED” was also launched. People development is a very important component for productivity, which covers both future workforce and current workforce.
Students will undergo an intervention education programme to be career ready for the retail and F&B industry. This will ensure that talents have the right attitude, energy, skills for the workplace. This will boost productivity and reduce attrition rate of Malaysian talents in the industry. It will also reduce reliance on foreign labour in the service industry.
The ClickED programme saw the cooperation between the 36 Polytechnics and 42 Community Colleges, Ministry of Education, MAHSA University, SEGi University, Inti University, Koperasi GRADUAN Malaysia with industry associations such as Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA), SME Association of Malaysia, Malaysia Entrepreneur Development Association (PUMM), Malaysia Employer Agency Association (PAPA) and F&B Connects.
The students from the institutions will undergo intervention training programme organised under ClickED and to ensure a better match between candidates, a psychometric assessment is also available under the site.
About Productivity Nexus for Retail and F&B
The Productivity Nexus was established as part of the Malaysia Productivity Blueprint, to boost productivity, increase innovation and capture growth opportunities.
The Nexus is a dedicated platform providing enhancement programmes to enterprises to encourage productivity growth of the subsector at large. It focuses on grassroots implementation of productivity initiatives, share best practices, introduce self-help productivity assessment tools as well as provide technical support to enterprises. The Nexus, represented by industry associations (MRCA, MRA, MFA and BRO) and related government ministries and agencies, is committed to governing and implementing productivity enhancement initiatives.
To address roadblocks and challenges in the Retail and F&B subsector, four productivity initiatives have been outlined namely to provide support for digitalisation of business operations and build e-commerce capabilities; promote opportunities for sharing economy, strengthen Retail and F&B competencies and provide assistance to Retail and F&B players to grow internationally.