Aeon store

Malaysian durian and pineapples, as well as other products, have been front and centre for Japanese retailer Aeon’s ‘Best of Malaysia’ promotions this October.

The four-day promotion has seen 158 Malaysian products, including 89 food products, marketed at seven Aeon supermarkets across Tokyo, Osaka and Chiba, according to Bernama.

Aeon's executive director Poh Ying Loo said the collaboration between Aeon and its Malaysian counterpart, Aeon BHD, was part of a push to promote Malaysian produce from the small and medium enterprise sector.

'Cooperation between the Malaysian and Japanese governments is important in identifying the rules and requirements of the local authorities to enable Malaysian products to get the approval to enter the Japanese market,' Poh told Bernama.

Launching the event was Malaysian minister for agricultire and agro-based industry, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, who said Malaysian growers should take advantage of the growth in demand for Malaysian produce in Japan.

“We plan to hold the Best of Malaysia event in Vietnam in December and Hong Kong in April next year, as well as Agrobazaar in London, Dubai and Hong Kong next year,” said Ismail Sabri at the launch of the promotion 17 October.

The 2014 Best of Malaysia progrogramme was the fourth to be held in Japan.