Sidec exposes 5 companies to cutting edge e-commerce with trip to Hangzhou

• Participants from Selangor e-Commerce Xccelerator Programme 2023
• Exposure inspires a founder to change mindset from local/SEA to global

The Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec), recently concluded an overseas trip, part of the Selangor E-Commerce Xccelerator Programme 2023 (ECX23). Taking place from 3 to 9 Dec, five companies from the programme took part. Pastels Group Sdn Bhd, Shapee Trading & Distribution (M) Sdn Bhd, Sonobee Ultrasound Sdn Bhd, Nori Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and Big Bath Sdn Bhd. The trip to Hangzhou, China, proved a fruitful mission of business expansion and learning, said Sidec.

Sidec facilitated business matching sessions in Hangzhou, connecting the Malaysian enterprises with key players in the Chinese e-commerce landscape in the hopes of learning cutting-edge e-commerce strategies.         

Yong Kai Ping, CEO of Sidec, said, "This mission was a golden opportunity for these Malaysian companies to gain exposure to international e-commerce best practices, scaling techniques, and insights into globally recognized brands. They also experienced a deep dive into Hangzhou’s innovative culture and networked with prominent entrepreneurs and business leaders, gaining unique insights.”

Reflecting on the experience, Eaugene Eau, CEO & Co-Founder of Shapee Trading & Distribution said, “It is an honour to join the first cohort for ECX23. I realize I needed to change my mindset. I will no longer be looking at only Malaysia or Southeast Asia. It seems like penetrating the global market is not so difficult with help from Alibaba. So, I will leverage all the resources and aim to be a global brand!”

Hangzhou, often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of China," was selected for the mission due to its status as a major hub for e-commerce. The birthplace of Alibaba, the city is also a focal point for international investments, home to 57 Fortune Global 500 companies.

The trip exposed the companies to areas such as the China Artificial Intelligence Town and various facilities specialising in e-commerce, big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and chip design. Participants interacted with AI experts and had the chance to see many innovation projects up close.