Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2018 SIBU, SARAWAK: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is pushing for greater awareness on export among Sarawakian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through its iconic outreach event Export Day. Called Export Day Sarawak 2018, this was the second time the iconic event was being held in Sarawak. The first edition was in Kuching.

Organised in collaboration with Sarawak Ministry of International Trade and e-Commerce (MITeC) the event was inaugurated by the Minister of MITeC, YB Dato’ Sri Wong Soon Koh, witnessed of YB Dato’ Haji Naroden Majais, the Assistant Minister of e-Commerce.

The Export Day Sarawak 2018 aimed to create a closer engagement with Sarawakian businesses apart from encouraging them to go global and promoting MATRADE’s facilitations for them to venture abroad. The event was also to commemorate MATRADE’s 25th year Anniversary.

During the event, the SMEs attended a series of Trade Talks highlighting market opportunities in Indonesia, India and China and were exposed to MATRADE’s initiatives too, namely Go-Ex, eTRADE, Market Development Grant and Services Export Fund.

According to MATRADE’s Senior Director of Transformation & Digital Trade Division, Mr. Amran Yem, the Export Day Sarawak 2018 was an important platform for Sarawakian SMEs in encouraging them to be more involved in global business. “It is important for Sarawak’s SMEs to take part in exporting so they can contribute in growing the country’s trade. Currently, SMEs in Malaysia contribute about 17.3 per cent in export, by 2020 we hope this number can increase up to 23 per cent as stipulated in the SME Masterplan. Sarawak’s SMEs can definitely play a greater role in this regard,” he said.

Currently, there are more than 450 companies from Sarawak across various industries such as automotive, machineries & appliances, palm oil products, building materials, shipbuilding, handcrafted products, food and beverages who are registered with MATRADE. MATRADE welcomes more Sarawakian companies to register as a MATRADE member so they will be the first to know about MATRADE’ exporters development programmes, market opportunities and trade promotion activities by MATRADE.

“We urge the business community in Sarawak to do more engagement with MATRADE through our Sarawak’s office so they could learn more about opportunities for their business overseas and how they can be matched with high-potential buyers from all over the world. Sarawak has various unique traits in natural resources such peppers and honey as well as in its culture. These can give Sarawakian companies an edge to market their brands abroad. What’s important is for them to understand global marketing, trade barriers and non-trade barriers. MATRADE has these information and we can render a big help to their export journey,” Amran mentioned.

In addition, participants also had the opportunity to seek key information on export at the export advisory counters at the event, by not only MATRADE but other relevant agencies and ministries too. Among them included the Ministry of International Trade & Industry, MITeC, Ministry of Industrial & Entrepreneur Development (MIED) Sarawak, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Malaysian Productivity Corporation, Malaysian Industrial Development Finance, MyIPO, Royal Malaysian Customs, SIRIM Bhd and EXIM Bank.