Boosting ties through trade fair

Published: Tuesday May 6, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM 

Updated: Tuesday May 6, 2014 MYT 12:56:57 PM

BY LOGEISWARY THEVADASS

Committed to serve: Committee members of the Penang Importers and
Exporters Association taking their oath for the term 2014/2015 in George Town.

T HE Penang Importers and Exporters Association (PIEA) is planning to organise an import and export exhibition in the state.

Its new president Ng Hooi Lai said the exhibition would be a great trade platform for local importers and exporters if such an exhibition were to be held in the state.

“As the new president, I want to do the best for the association and it has always been an ambition of mine to organise such an exhibition.

“We can invite suppliers from all over the world to meet our members and set up trade relations,” he said after a swearing-in ceremony for PIEA’s 2014/2015 committee members at a hotel in George Town recently.

Hooi Lai said there had been no such exhibition which concentrated solely on importers and exporters, adding that his aim was to promote the association to the best of his ability and at the same time, get more members to join.

“We are also educating the members on the Goods and Services Tax or GST which will be implemented next year.”

He also promised that the association would carry out more programmes that would benefit the association and its members.

PIEA, which started 60 years ago, currently has some 240 members.

Also present was Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik, who said importers and exporters should keep abreast of current issues and changes in the business world such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement that was under discussion and the GST.

“These will affect the association members. So, it is important to be up-to-date on such changes,” he said in his opening speech.