With the growth of the ASEAN e-commerce sector’s net worth expected to reach US$153 billion in 2025, Shopee is taking some extra precautions everyone get’s a piece of the pie. Shopee has been working with the Government to equip local traders with skills, knowledge and opportunities to bring the products online. Last

Last month, Shopee inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Rural Development’s (KPLB) appointed e-commerce enabler, Elokal, to ensure that rural entrepreneurs are not left behind.

The Desamall@KPLB official store was launched, featuring locally-made products like sambal, dodol, books, baju kurung and more. Following the success, the Ministry is launching an automotive specialty store on Shopee.

Known as Desaauto@KPLB, the initiative is expected to benefit over 200 rural entrepreneurs manufacturing and distributing automotive parts such as tyres, spare parts and engine oil. This will give them the opportunity to reach new potential customers across the country and the region through Shopee’s cross-border service, Shopee International Platform.

To start, there’ll be 100 products available on the store.

“Around 24% of the population in Malaysia are living in rural areas, and my Ministry’s main focus is to improve the infrastructure, economic standing and income of the rural folks. A lot must be done in rural areas. Desamall@KPLB and Desaauto@KPLB on Shopee are two of KPLB’s initiatives that will allow rural entrepreneurs to ride the wave of e-commerce, in tandem with the fourth industrial revolution.

Our goal for 2020 is to groom 5,000 new rural entrepreneurs. We have laid the groundwork for them and with all these exciting line-up, we are confident that we will be able to achieve this target. The onus is now on the rural folks to step up and harness these opportunities presented to them,” said Rural Development Minister, YB Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun who officiated the launch of Desaauto@KPLB official store on Shopee, at W Kuala Lumpur.