TUESDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2019, KUALA LUMPUR: With a population of more than 1.3 billion people, China remains a main export market for Malaysia. Given this huge market size, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is championing a Public-Private Partnership effort to boost the awareness on Malaysia’s export capabilities at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2019 in Shanghai from 5 to 10 November 2019.

The Malaysian delegation to CIIE will be led by the Deputy Minister of International Trade & Industry YBhg. Dr. Ong Kian Ming and will be participated by 54 Malaysian companies and Ministries and Agencies such as Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry (MOA), Industrial Terminal & Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MINTRED), Malaysia Automotive Robotics And IOT Institute (MARii), Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC), Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).
The Malaysian companies at the event will be showcasing their latest range of products and services such as food & beverages, agricultural produces, lifestyle, health & wellness products, commodities produces, tourism & hospitality services as well as cross-borders eCommerce services.

According to Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE, Dato’ Wan Latiff Wan Musa, the CIIE 2019 is the largest international exhibition endorsed by the central government of China and was an event mooted by President Xi Jinping. “The involvement of Malaysian players in CIIE offers great opportunities for Malaysia to enhance its presence and visibility in China, taking into account that China is further opening up its market and expected to import US$ 30 trillion of goods and US$ 10 trillion of services in the next 15 years. It is therefore important for us to have continuous presence in the CIIE,” said Wan Latiff.

“The CIIE 2019 is also a platform for Malaysia to reach out beyond China as more than 150 countries and international organisations will be taking part in this mega event. Malaysian enterprises should also be able to explore opportunities to establish strategic business linkages with these international exhibitors,” Wan Latiff added.

During the mission to CIIE, apart from the exhibition, there will be a series of engagements with Malaysian business community in Shanghai, Roundtable Meetings with potential investors and large importers as well as visits to potential investors in Shanghai, Suzhou and Kunshan.

China continues to be Malaysia’s largest trading partner for nine consecutive years since 2009. Trade with China for the period of January to August 2019 stood at RM203.73 billion, contracting slightly by 1.2 per cent compared to the same period of 2018. Exports to China reduced marginally by 0.1 per cent to RM88.96 billion, due to lower exports of Electrical & Electronics products, rubber products, crude petroleum as well as optical and scientific equipment. However, expansion in export was seen in sectors such as LNG, chemicals and chemical products, iron and steel products as well as manufactures of metal. Meanwhile, imports from China registered a decrease of 2 per cent to RM114.77 billion.