Press Releases 2017

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017, SHAH ALAM: With 2017 nearing its end, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) took the opportunity to organise a Mid-Tier Companies Development Programme (MTCDP) outreach initiative or turun padang session to Kawan Food Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Bodibasixs Manufacturing Sdn Bhd. The initiative was aimed at gathering valuable insights on the Mid-Tier Companies’ (MTCs) operations, export opportunities and challenges in embracing 2018.

As part the Government’s continuous support for Malaysian MTCs, the turun padang visit was led by YB Datuk Chua Tee Yong, Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s (MITI) Deputy Minister (Trade). The event served as an avenue for MITI and its agency MATRADE to better understand the MTCs needs in crafting better facilitation for their export venture.

During the visit, the delegation from MITI and MATRADE spent a few hours visiting the companies’ factories where they were able to get first-hand experience on the companies’ business processes and capacity.

MATRADE’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Puan Sharimahton Mat Saleh said the visit is an important effort to not only engage with industry players but to understand the companies’ core business aspirations. “By doing so, we will get to identify the opportunity for them in the global supply chain. Such effort is key to further develop the strength of the programme and ultimately this will positively impact the MTCs exports performance,” she said.

Since the inception of the MTCDP in 2014, a total of 173 MTCs from various sectors have benefitted from the 9-month programme. In 2016, the total exports recorded for 152 graduated MTCs were RM6.82 billion, compared to RM6.18 billion generated in 2015. The combined yearly growth of the MTCs is 10.41 per cent.
In Malaysia, MTCs account for one per cent of Malaysian business establishments, but they contribute 30% to Malaysia’s GDP and employ over 22% of the total workforce. MATRADE, through its MTCDP aims to further push the contribution of Malaysian MTCs by providing them customised assistance, that befits their unique business set up.

The MTCs in MTCDP are exporting companies with annual revenues between RM50 million to RM500 million (manufacturing) and between RM20 million to RM500 million (services).

Upon completing the MTCDP, the companies will be absorbed into the Ramp-Up Programme where they undergo a two-year extension programme to intensify their market access and export capabilities in new and existing key potential markets. This is achieved through Market Immersion Missions and Customised Business Matchmaking.

Graduates of MTCDP will also be automatically enrolled as members of the Malaysian Consortium of Mid-Tier Companies (MCMTC). The MCMTC was launched by YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry on 1 November 2017, and aims to promote MTCs’ sustainable growth by capitalising on strategic alliances. The MCMTC also acts as a platform for MTCs to network, exchange, and generate ideas as well as solutions to solving business issues.

THURSDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2017, KUALA LUMPUR: Menara MATRADE was abuzz with the attendance of over 300 Malaysian companies who came to gather insights on exporting to China. The forum, focusing on CASTPP Platform, was jointly organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), China Guangxi Qinzhou Free Trade Port Administration Area (QGFTPA) and ICBC (Malaysia).

The Business Forum highlighted the benefits and opportunities offered by the CASTPP, Belt & Road Initiative and Trade Financing as well as market knowledge on China. The forum was graced by YB Datuk Chua Tee Yong, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (Trade), Ir. Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen Madros, Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE, Madam Shi Ziming, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia and Mr. Wang Qiang, CEO of ICBC (Malaysia) Berhad.

Apart from the forum, a product sourcing session was arranged for 20 buyers from China with 25 Malaysian suppliers from food industry.

CASTPP is a platform jointly initiated by Guangxi Qinzhou Free Trade Port Area and Guangxi China-ASEAN Panorama Magazine Agency, that was launched by YB Datuk Chua Tee Yong, Deputy Minister of the Minister of International Trade and Industry (Trade), in December 2016 at MATRADE. The inception of CASTPP was supported by MATRADE as one of the initiatives to drive exports to China.

CASTPP provides online and offline platform to facilitate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) exports venture to China. The platform offers a one-stop solution for customs clearance for SMEs when exporting to China. To date, five Malaysian companies have successfully exported products valued at RM1 million through the CASTPP platform.

Malaysia’s trade with China in January-October 2017 expanded by 24.1% to RM237.96 billion compared with the same period in 2016. Exports to China surged by 33.5% to RM103.32 billion, due to higher exports of Electrical & Electronics products, petroleum products, LNG, chemicals and chemical products as well as rubber products. Imports from China increased by 17.8% to RM134.64 billion.

MATRADE as Malaysia’s export promotion agency offers various facilitation for Malaysian companies in areas such as market intelligence and trade advisory as well as export promotion and capacity building programmes. The agency, under Ministry of International Trade and Industry, has 46 trade offices around the world of which four are in China - Beijing (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Guangzhou (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Shanghai
(This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Chengdu (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Hong Kong
( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

KHAMIS, 7 DISEMBER 2017, KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita UMNO dan Woman at Work dengan kerjasama Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (MATRADE) menganjurkan "Pameran Wanita Kreatif 2017" bersempena dengan Perhimpunan Agung UMNO 2017. Pameran ini berlangsung di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur bermula dari 5 hingga 9 Disember 2017.

Pameran ini bertujuan untuk mengenengahkan potensi perniagaan yang dimiliki oleh usahawan wanita dari seluruh Malaysia. Selain segmen pameran, beberapa aktiviti seperti sesi bicara niaga, sesi perkongsian kejayaan oleh syarikat Malaysia, tutorial, sesi rangkaian perniagaan, penampilan selebriti serta persembahan kebudayaan turut dijayakan bersama kerjasama agensi-agensi seperti Istana Budaya dan Badan Kebudayaan Negeri Sabah. Sebanyak 16 pempamer dari negeri-negeri di Malaysia termasuk Sabah dan Sarawak (13 gerai) dan selebriti tempatan (3 gerai) telah mengambil bahagian dalam acara ini.

Dirasmikan YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa & Industri (MTI), pameran ini turut memberi penekanan kepada pameran seni kreatif tempatan seperti seni manik, jahitan baju tradisional dan batik.

Menurut YB Dato’ Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Pengerusi MATRADE, “Pameran ini bertujuan menampilkan bakat keusahawanan usahawan wanita dari negeri-negeri di Malaysia selain memberi pendedahan kepada kepentingan pembangunan kapasiti bagi usahawan-usahawan ini dalam mempersiapkan diri ke arena global.”

MATRADE, sebagai agensi promosi perdagangan Malaysia, mempunyai pelbagai fasilitasi untuk membantu syarikat-syarikat milikan wanita Malaysia berjaya di peringkat antarabangsa antaranya melalui Program Pembangunan Pengeksport Wanita (WEDP). Program ini telah membantu PKS wanita melalui aktiviti pemupukan dan bimbingan khusus dalam eksport.

Program WEDP merupakan program bimbingan tiga tahun yang berfokus kepada peningkatan pengetahuan dan kemahiran mengeksport buat syarikat milikan wanita. Sejak pengenalan Program WEDP, sejumlah 120 syarikat milik wanita telah mendapat manfaat daripada program ini. Syarikat-syarikat ini yang terdiri daripada sektor makanan dan minuman, gaya hidup, ICT dan E&E, minyak dan gas serta farmaseutikal berjaya mengakses pasaran seperti ASEAN, Amerika Syarikat, China, Oman dan Qatar.

KHAMIS, 14 DISEMBER 2017, KUALA LUMPUR: Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (MATRADE) menzahirkan sokongan terhadap inisiatif pencegahan rasuah dengan melafaz dan menandatangani Ikrar Bebas Rasuah (IBR) dalam satu majlis yang diadakan di Menara MATRADE hari ini. Acara tersebut disaksikan oleh Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).

Lafaz serta tandatangan IBR yang diketuai oleh Pengerusi MATRADE, YB. Dato’ Dr. Noraini Ahmad dijalankan dengan kehadiran Ahli Lembaga Pegarah MATRADE, Pengurusan Kanan MATRADE dan disaksikan oleh YBhg. Dato’ Shamshun Baharin bin Mohd Jamil, Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Pencegahan) SPRM.

IBR yang ditandatangani adalah sebagai janji dan komitmen MATRADE untuk bersama-sama memerangi rasuah dan salah guna kuasa bagi mewujudkan sebuah organisasi yang mempunyai tadbir urus yang baik.
Menurut YB. Dato’ Dr. Noraini Ahmad, “MATRADE sudah lama mempraktikkan langkah-langkah untuk mencegah rasuah di kalangan kakitangannya melalui aktiviti-aktiviti seperti ceramah kesedaran, penyampaian informasi cegah rasuah secara mingguan, membangunkan polisi pemberi maklumat dan pelaksanaan polisi ‘No Gift Policy’.”

“Majlis pada hari ini adalah bertepatan dengan fungsi MATRADE sebagai organisasi yang setiap hari berurusan dengan pelanggan-pelanggan dari dalam dan luar negara dalam menghadapi persekitaran yang semakin mencabar,” tambah beliau.

Menjurus kepada inisiatif ini, MATRADE akan meneruskan segala usahanya dalam merancakkan lagi prestasi perdagangan Malaysia dengan mengaplikasikan langkah-langkah tadbir urus yang efektif, dipandu oleh prinsip pencegahan rasuah.

TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2017, KUALA LUMPUR: A mission spearheaded by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) to promote Malaysian companies in the aerospace industry took place from 12 to 16 November 2017 in conjunction with Dubai Airshow 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The mission saw 10 Malaysian companies raking in potential sales valued at RM165.25 million.

The mission, called Export Acceleration Mission (EAM), was aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s position as the aerospace industry hub in Asia Pacific and to explore business opportunities for Malaysian companies through collaboration with international aerospace Tier 1 and Tier 2 vendors. The Malaysian expertise promoted at the EAM were engineering services, composite manufacturing, navigation and integration system, precision parts and components, maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) services, human resource development and training.

The initiative was organised in an effort to boost the exports contribution from the local aerospace industry players. In the first nine months of 2017, aircraft and associated equipment generated the biggest exports contribution for the aerospace industry with a value of RM6.21 billion, recording a staggering increment of 51.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

According to Madam Yuslinawati Mohd Yusof, Director of Transport and Logistics Section, MATRADE, the promotion of Malaysia’s aerospace industry is in line with the Government’s aspiration to accelerate the performance of high-value sectors in Malaysia. The aerospace industry has been identified as one of the key industries to push for this agenda. The aerospace industry was also identified as one of the catalytic sub-sector in the Eleventh Malaysia Plan (11MP).

“Malaysia has all the necessary ingredients to be a strong aerospace nation, equipped with world class infrastructure such as KLIA Aeropolis, Senai Airport Aviation Park and UMW Serendah High Value Manufacturing Park,” she said.

“Currently, Malaysia is home to more than 200 aerospace companies, who play a pivotal role in developing local supply chain,” she added.

In the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Blueprint, Malaysia is poised to be the number one aerospace centre in the South East Asia region. The industry is an integral part of the global economy and by the year 2030, the industry is set to generate an annual revenue of RM55.2 billion and create more than 32,000 high income jobs in Malaysia.

Dubai Airshow 2017 is one of the largest and well-known airshows in the world, bringing together industry players from all corners of the world.  Malaysia’s participation not only allowed local companies to tap into the opportunities in the Middle East region but in other parts of the world too.

During the EAM, MATRADE coordinated more than a hundred business meetings and networking sessions for the Malaysian companies with potential UAE’s and international aerospace companies. The meetings included the involvement of consortiums and trade associations and has served as a good platform for Malaysian aerospace industry players to connect with international buyers.

One of the participants, UMW Development, said that they were able engage with aerospace players among who included Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and support service providers (logistics, tooling and others). This has opened up the doors for them to discuss partnerships and investment opportunities.

Other companies such as D'viation Solution was able to connect with potential partners in the MRO sector, training for skilled aviation personnel and R&D in Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR) for advanced MRO. The company will also be signing an MoU on aviation training, a deal which value is estimated at RM5 million.

Malaysian companies in keen to venture abroad are urged to contact MATRADE by emailing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and leverage on its 47 global trade offices around the world. The trade offices will provide strategic linkages for the local companies to connect with international buyers and partners in capturing global market shares.