Automechanika Shanghai 2020, which went ahead in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic had closed its 16th chapter with success. The four-day event took place from 2 – 5 December 2020 at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC), Shanghai, China. Reaching across six continents, the show convened 3,845 exhibitors from 29 countries and regions and a total of 79,863 domestic visitors. All foreign exhibitors were represented by their local representatives in China, including MRC.

Despite uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, MRC endeavoured to maintain its presence in the event with a promotional booth to showcase a wide array of Made-in-Malaysia quality rubber products for automotive and transportation sectors such as rubber automotive components, industrial gloves, retreading materials as well as green rubber, namely Ekoprena and Pureprena. MRC received trade enquiries only from the locals as China is still suspending the entry of most foreign nationals. MRC also took up prominent advertising signage at strategic areas within the fairground to increase awareness on Made-in-Malaysia rubber products among the potential buyers.

The show's next edition is scheduled to be held from 24 – 27 November 2021 at the same venue.

The Covid-19 pandemic has restricted travelling and movement of people, including the business community globally hence MRC has taken the initiative to create an online business matching platform, namely MRC e-Global Sourcing Mission (e-GSM) for Malaysian rubber and rubber product manufacturers to meet potential buyers virtually. Organised from 1 – 4 December 2020, the e-GSM programme provided a safe online platform for global buyers to meet with genuine Malaysian manufacturers virtually to source quality rubber and rubber products from Malaysia.

A total of 24 business matching have been coordinated between 12 potential buyers and nine Malaysian rubber and rubber products manufacturers. The buyers participated in the e-GSM were from Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Poland while their product interests are rubber automotive components, engineered rubber products, precured treads and retreading materials, latex foam and latex mattresses, as well as specialty rubber materials – Ekoprena and Pureprena.

MRC's participated in the very first virtual.MEDICA 2020 which was held from 16 – 19 November 2020. There was a total of over 1,300 virtual exhibitors representing 61 countries took part in the event. A wide variety of healthcare products amounting to over 15,000 items were displayed in the online showrooms and over 100 live web sessions were presented for the healthcare community. Over 45,000 professional visitors from 169 nations had connected to the virtual platform and generated 405,000-page impressions with 78% were accounted by international online visitors.

MRC featured a total of 38 rubber medical devices under eight different product categories during the virtual event. For the first time, MRC introduced new animated rubber medical devices directory specially for this virtual event. The directory included full range of medical gloves as well as the non-glove items such as condoms, catheters, respirators, etc. Throughout the four-day virtual event, MRC Marketplace recorded an increase of 50% views per day. MRC also received encouraging number of trade enquiries and most of the enquiries were on medical gloves, particularly nitrile and latex examination gloves. Majority of the enquiries were received from European and Asian countries.

The Matchmaking platform in virtual.MEDICA had successfully linked MRC with a number of potential buyers that are interested to source rubber medical devices from Malaysia. Apart from MRC, the other three Malaysian rubber medical device manufacturers, namely Alliance Rubber Products, Diptech Industries and Smart Glove Corporation, were also tuned in to the digital platform and showcased their products virtually in this event to stay connected with the global healthcare players.

The next edition of MEDICA will be held from 15 – 18 November 2021 as a hybrid event which also consists of live platforms for professional visitors to the Düsseldorf trade fair centre.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies to adapt to the new norm and many businesses are embarking on virtual meetings. In light of this, MRC would like to announce its inaugural E-Global Sourcing Mission (e-GSM) to be held from 1 – 31 December 2020. The e-GSM is a programme which provides a safe online platform for global buyers to identify and meet with genuine Malaysian manufacturers to source for quality rubber products from Malaysia.

The key rubber products that are promoted under the e-GSM programme this year are Rubber Automotive Components, Engineered Rubber Products, Precured Treads & Retreading Materials, Latex Foam & Latex Mattresses and Specialty Rubber Materials (Green Rubber).

Interested buyers, importers or distributors are invited to register at the e-GSM Online Registration Form. The registration is opened now until 22 November 2020.

For more information, please contact Mr Syazwan (syazwan@myrubbercouncil.com) or Ms Zafirah (zafirah@myrubbercouncil.com)