SEPANG: Malaysian made products will be taking to the skies in a first ever partnership between low-cost airline AirAsia and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

The collaboration, involving over 500 products, was jointly announced by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes at the airlines head office on Thursday (April 18).

"AirAsia will initially offer eight local food products on all its flights.

"In addition to that, 550 local businesses will be able to expand their market by offering their products on AirAsia's e-commerce platforms OURSHOP and ROKKI," he said during the launch of the "Buy Malaysia Products" campaign here.

Saifuddin added that AirAsia had agreed to waive the listing fee of RM5,000 for the 550 businesses under the programme.

"This is the first such ever collaboration, where the campaign to promote local products is being done skywards.
"Previously, we did it on the ground by requiring that at least 30% of products at hypermarket and supermarkets to be locally made," Saifuddin said.

Later when speaking to reporters, Fernandes said that it has been one of his goals to help local businesses.

"We wanted to help more Malaysians fly when we first started the company 17 years ago, and have now flown over 100 million passengers.

"We believe we can now help Malaysian businesses by promoting their products through this collaboration," he said.
Fernandes added the company is looking at developing its T&Co snack and beverages into a franchise soon.

He said that the company also intends to promote its in-flight menu, Santan, by opening a fast food restaurant in London.

 

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2019/04/18/malaysian-made-products-take-to-the-skies-in-airasia-partnership-with-ministry/