KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- SME Corp Malaysia's efforts to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are beginning to pay dividend, said Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan.

Jacob said business-matchings among 207 companies facilitated by SME Corp in four states and in Putrajaya had generated sales of up to RM106.25 million last year.

He said upscaling branding and innovativeness were the key ingredients for SMEs to better promote their products and garner greater market share.

"The inclusion of hypermarkets in the business-matching events has helped SMEs take their businesses to an advanced level, where they have to learn the do's and don'ts of dealing with multinational companies," he told reporters after the launch of SME Hebat Carnival here Thursday.

The carnival, from Feb 8-13, is jointly organised by SME Corp and AEON (M) Co Bhd. It is held at Alpha Angle Shopping Centre, Wangsa Maju.

Jacob said four hypermarkets -- AEON, Mydin, Tesco and Giant -- would collaborate with the government in organising the carnivals throughout this year.

He said the government targeted sales of RM1 million during the carnivals.

"This is an initiative to help local SMEs facilitate their business operations through promotions and marketing.

"We are targeting RM200,000 in sales for this carnival with AEON," he said.

He said the next carnival, in cooperation with Mydin, would be held outside the Klang Valley in April.

SME Corp chief executive officer, Datuk Hafsah Hashim, said the carnivals would offer SMEs the opportunities to promote their products and hopefully be able to penetrate hypermarkets overseas.

Meanwhile, AEON senior executive general manager, Mitsuru Nakata, urged SMEs to be more aggressive and competitive.

"SMEs can become part of AEON business parners and work together to promote local products and grow together to become stronger and more independent.

-- BERNAMA