Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

Monday, May 9th, 2016, Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and China ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) Secretariat are joining forces to organise the Promotional Conference Road Show on the 13th CAEXPO 2016 in four selected cities namely Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Johor and Sungai Petani, from 9 to 12 May 2016.

The series of road shows aim to promote the participation of Malaysian exporters in the 13th CAEXPO that is set to be held from 23 – 26 September 2016, in the City of Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Carrying the theme “Co-building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Jointly Forging a Closer China-ASEAN Community of Shared Destiny”, this year will see MATRADE taking up a bigger space for the Malaysia Pavilion -- 3,240 sqm. The pavilion will be housing over 200 local companies from the Food & Beverages, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle, Franchising and Services sector as well as a number of Government agencies.

Last year, the Malaysia Pavilion occupied a space of 2,900sqm involving 149 Malaysian exhibitors and seven government agencies. The participation had generated total sales of RM214.6 million.

According to MATRADE’s Market Access and International Partnership Division Senior Director Madam Aureen Jean Nonis, “CAEXPO plays an important role in strengthening bilateral trade relations between Malaysia and China as well as with the other ASEAN countries. It serves as an ideal platform to promote Malaysian products and services to the China and ASEAN market of 1.9 billion people combined.”

“Previous participations in CAEXPOs have proved to be major success for Malaysian exhibitors as many local visitors were attracted to the Malaysia Pavilion, largely due to the positive reputation of Malaysian products and services in China,” she added.

CAEXPO has been selected by MATRADE to be one of its major events due to the event’s effectiveness and importance as a strategic entry platform for many Malaysian companies into the China and ASEAN market. Apart from gathering buyers and sellers from the private sector, the iconic event also involves key government ministries and government linked companies too.

Since 2009, Malaysia is China’s largest ASEAN trading partner and in 2015, the total trade between Malaysia and China amounted to RM230.89 billion compared to RM207.8 billion for the same period in 2014 -- an increase of 11 percent. Malaysia’s total exports to China for the same period recorded a double-digit growth of 10 percent to RM101.53 billion despite the slower economic growth in China. Meanwhile, the total imports from China were valued at RM129.36 billion.

Malaysian companies who wish to participate in the 13th CAEXPO 2016 are urged to register on www.matrade.gov.my or contact Ms. Yeow Chin Chin (03-6207 7104) / Ms. Hon Jia Xin (03-6207 7103) for more details.