KUALA LUMPUR: Ever Nexus (M) Sdn Bhd has teamed up with Shanghai-listed company Shanghai Jiaoda Onlly Co Ltd to set up a special “green lane” trade access to China via an exhibition and trade centre in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Beijing on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysia’s conducive business climate, proven track record and chairmanship of Asean next year, would be factors for further trade and investment between the two countries.

Ever Nexus chairman Rizal Faris, in an interview with The Edge Financial Daily, said the company will bring to the joint venture its expertise in developing product certification processes and its extensive knowledge of products supply chain in Malaysia and the Southeast Asian region. “It will also manage government relations, and advise on supportive policies and funding,” he added.

According to the Minister of Transport Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, the Malaysia National Exhibition and Trade Centre will be an exhibition and trade centre for Malaysian products in China.

“It will consist of concept stores in Shanghai, and mobile concept stores with roadshows in the neighbouring provinces of the Yangzte Triangle — which has a market size of 150 million people,” said Liow.

Ever Nexus managing director Dr Shahridan Faiez said: “With this special green lane concept, we will be able to ensure more effective and targeted access of Malaysian products [for] China”.

“We signed a memorandum of understanding last month to set up a joint venture that will create a Malaysian “green lane”, an online and offline platform and distribution network to supply Malaysian products to the Chinese market,” said Shahridan.

Shanghai Jiaoda Onlly president and chairman of the board Zhu Minjun said his company will plan, manage and execute the joint venture’s programmes, and be responsible for establishing a centralised platform for market research, information support, holistic business design, value chain facilitation and custom clearance services.

“We will also be responsible for promoting the Malaysia National Exhibition and Trade Centre in China,” he said, while adding that Onlly will also contribute financial support for the project, including issuing letters of credit and providing guarantees.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on December 4, 2014.