Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysia’s national trade promotion organisation, is all set to organise National Export Day 2019 (NED 2019) as an effort to mobilise Malaysian exporter community to further grow their global footprint amidst an increasingly challenging economic landscape.

The event, which will take place at Menara MATRADE on 24 October 2019 will attract over 1,000 participants, ranging from businesses which are export-ready to those gearing to expand their sales beyond the Malaysian shores for the first time.

As it carries the theme which is ‘Sustainability and Inclusiveness’, NED 2019 is expected to attract Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Mid-Tier companies and Government-linked companies from all industries including Food & Beverages, Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Construction, Logistics and Electrical & Electronics. Efforts have also been made to live stream the proceedings to all of MATRADE’s state offices including those in Sabah and Sarawak as well as MATRADE’s trade offices around the world.

“Our aim is clear and simple, we want as many Malaysian companies to get access to this event to not only secure insights but also be energised and motivated to kickstart their venture in exporting as well as to provide guidance to existing exporters so they can grow further. This is crucial to ensure Malaysia will have sufficient and strong pool of exporters to help our nation maintains its positive trade performance,” said Dato’ Wan Latiff Wan Musa, the Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE.

In 2018, Malaysia’s total trade breached the RM1 trillion mark (RM1.004 trillion) for the first time ever and based on the latest data, for the first eight months of 2019, total trade stood at RM1.209 trillion.

According to him, towards this end the programme was developed to encompass various key issues that will be relevant to the Malaysian export community. These issues will include those related to global trade friction, transforming local champions to global leaders, governance and critically sustainability.

NED 2019 is part of MATRADE's Corporate Shared Values (CSV) initiative called SUSTAINABILITY ACTION VALUES FOR EXPORTERS or SAVE. Through SAVE, MATRADE is taking a leadership role in championing the adoption of sustainable practices among Malaysian companies based on United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The NED is also an excellent platform for Malaysian companies to engage with their respective industry players as well as with MATRADE officers to seek clarification on MATRADE’s facilitation and how they can leverage on the export incentives announced during the recent Budget 2020. “They will also get the opportunity to be consulted by MATRADE’s officers who have served as Trade Commissioners (TCs) overseas. These former TCs will be able to give them valuable insights based on years of market assessments,” he pointed out.

The speakers who will be featured in NED include YB Datuk Ignatius Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Professor Lim Chin Leng, Chinese University of Hong Kong and Ms. Rina Neoh, Co-Founder of Ficus Venture Capital Sdn Bhd. The MATRADE’s former TCs who will be speaking at the event are those who were based in Almaty, Ho Chi Minh City, Yangon, Chengdu, Rotterdam, Seoul and Tokyo.