JIIA Enters into a Strategic Business Partnership with Kolam Emas, Witnessed by SME Corp. Malaysia.

Summary

The Japan International Influencer Association  (Headquarters: Tokyo; “JIIA”) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a strategic business partnership with Malaysia-based Kolam Emas Sdn. Bhd. (Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur; “Kolam Emas”). The partnership aims to promote business collaboration between Southeast Asia and Japan.

The MoU signing ceremony was held on Tuesday, June 23, 2025, at 11:00 AM in the Business Hall of the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Witnessed by Mr. Tajul Ariffin, Senior Manager of the Small and Medium Enterprise Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp. Malaysia), the MoU was signed by Mr. Onnie Zurin Bin Abu, Executive Chairman of Kolam Emas, and Ms. Eiko Yoshida, Interim Secretary-General of the Japan International Influencer Association.

Background and Purpose of the Partnership

This partnership combines the functions of JIIA, which supports the expansion of Japanese brands into Asia, with those of Kolam Emas, which handles distribution and promotion within the ASEAN region. The collaboration aims to create multifaceted value, including:

• Supporting the expansion of Japanese products (e.g., health foods, cosmetics, lifestyle goods) into Southeast Asia.

• Assisting ASEAN companies in entering the Japanese market (e.g., OEM manufacturing, certification acquisition, sales channel development).

• Developing experiential promotions and cultural showcases for consumers.

• Co-hosting cross-border business matching events.

Comments from Both Parties

Comment from Eiko Yoshida (Interim Secretary-General, Japan International Influencer Association): “This partnership with Kolam Emas is a major step forward in our vision of creating a ‘brand platform connecting with Asia.’ Signing this MoU at a symbolic venue like the Osaka Expo gives me confidence that this will become a strong foundation for future multilateral collaboration.”

Comment from Mr. Onnie Zurin Bin Abu (Executive Chairman, Kolam Emas): “Our partnership with the Japan International Influencer Association Preparatory Office serves as a crucial bridge for Malaysian companies wishing to access the Japanese market. Moving forward, we will achieve mutual distribution and growth through concrete joint projects.”

Future Outlook

Both parties will progressively roll out the following specific initiatives:

• Expanding the presence of Japanese products in major Malaysian malls and online stores.

• Jointly operating live commerce and KOL (Key Opinion Leader) marketing campaigns.

• Co-hosting reciprocal cross-border exhibitions and business matching events.

• Strengthening brand co-development and export-ready systems through OEM/ODM partnerships.

Through these efforts, we will advance a medium- to long-term strategy with the vision of building a “brand ecosystem that circulates within the Asian region.”