LOCAL businesses are tapping into the expatriate niche market, providing goods and services specifically catered to their needs.

While some foreigners live here under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, there are many who work or study here as well.

Numerous grocery stores catering to the Japanese, Koreans and Iranians have sprung up, in addition to the established stores that have long sold imported goods from the United States, Australia and Europe.

In the Sri Hartamas area alone there are two grocery stores for the Japanese and Koreans because many of them have made their homes there under the MM2H programme.

There are also two popular Iranian grocery stores right behind Ampang Point, off Jalan Ampang.

And they are popular not only with the expatriate crowd, but with Malaysians known for their love of culinary adventure.

"I have no problem cooking Iranian food here because everything is available in these shops," said Simin Saghafi from Teheran, here to complete her Master's in tourism.

"Every Iranian in the Klang Valley comes here to shop for groceries," she added.

Besides grocery stores, there are also several publications that cater to the people of various nationalities who now call Malaysia home.

Among them are Monorail and Tourist, written in Persian for the Iranian community, the free Japanese newsletter called Panola, and Expat magazine for English speakers.

There are also businesses that rent quality furniture to expatriates, and a gallery in Petaling Jaya that has a rent-a-painting service.

 

Source: New Striats Times