Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

WELCOME REMARKS BY

DATO’ NORAINI AHMAD
CHAIRMAN MATRADE

TRADE TALK ON ENHANCING PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRICA AND LAUNCHING OF MALAYSIA-AFRICA PROFESSIONAL ENTREPRENEURS (MAPE)

25 FEBRUARY 2016
MATRADE HALL, MENARA MATRADE

Y.B Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed
Minister International Trade and Industry

Y.B Datuk Haji Ahmad Bin Haji Maslan,
Deputy Minister of Ministry of International Trade and Industry

YBhg. Tan Sri Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria,
Secretary General, Ministry of International Trade and Industry

YBhg. Dato' Dzulkifli Mahmud
CEO of MATRADE

Mr Ismael Nabe
Vice President and Founder of Malaysian- African Professional Entrepreneurs Association (MAPE)

HE Cuthbert Zakata
Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Malaysia & Dean of the African Ambassadors/High Commissioners

Madam Noraishah Hj. Hussain
Head Division of Business Technical Services
KLCC Projeks Services Sdn. Bhd.

Mr Seow Cheng Soon
Managing Director, Probase Manufacturing Sdn Bhd

Your Excellencies, Ambassadors & High Commissioners and Friends from the Diplomatic Corp & Foreign Trade Organisations

Fellow students from Africa

Representatives from Malaysian companies, Trade associations, members of the private sectors

Members of the media

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalamualaikum and a very good morning

Welcome to MATRADE, your partner in international business.

1. First and foremost, I take this opportunity to thank all of you for your presence in this morning’s trade talk on Enhancing Partnership with Africa.   I would also like to record MATRADE’s appreciation to YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister International Trade and Industry for being with us to deliver a speech on this significant event despite his busy schedule.

2.  On behalf of MATRADE I would like to take thank MAPE for their collaboration and support in organising this Talk. My appreciation also goes to our speaker Madam Noraishah Hj. Hussain and Mr Seow Cheng Soon for taking time to be here with us to share their knowledge and expertise.

Ladies and gentleman,

Today’s talk is a part of continuous effort undertaken by MATRADE for Malaysian exporters to increase the knowledge to access international markets, especially on African market. Therefore, in the programme, we bring KLCC Projek Sdn. Bhd and Probase Manufacturing Sdn Bhd to inspire Malaysian exporters to venture into the African market.

KLCC Projeks Services Sdn. Bhd. is a project management company under KLCC Group of Companies. Their projects include international and local projects such as KLCC Development and Putrajaya Development. Major projects undertaken in overseas include firstly, Burj Dubai Development in United Arab Emirates (UAE)  as the master plan & urban design formalization and design management & review and secondly as the project management in infrastructure for the Reem Island Development in UAE.  While in Sudan, they were involved in construction of Petronas Headquarters in Khartoum as the project management consultant.

Probase Manufacturing Sdn Bhd is one of the Malaysian companies successfully that have penetrated into the African market. They had signed an MoU on 6th September 2014 for the construction of roads in the wider Meru county in Kenya. Probase have started with a pilot project to construct a 10 km road in Meru at cost of USD 3.6 million.  After the successful completion of the pilot project, Probase will be contracted to further undertake construction of 300 km road within the county at a cost of USD 104 million.

Ladies and gentleman,

There are ample opportunities for both Malaysian and African business community to expand trade between both Nations. In 2015, Malaysia’s total trade with Africa increased by 2.5 per cent to RM 30.10 billion in 2014, driven by higher exports. Malaysia exports to Africa totaled RM20.61 billion in 2015, an increase of 5.9 per cent due to higher exports of petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products and machinery and appliances. Malaysia’s imports from Africa contracted by 4 per cent to RM9.49 billion compared with 2014. Major imports from Africa are agricultures products comprising cocoa bean, fruits and natural rubber.

These trade statistics is a clear indication of the potential to expand and deepen trade between Malaysia and Africa. I believe that the valuable information that has been shared by the speakers today will impart greater confidence in you to pursue trade and investment opportunities.

Ladies and gentleman,

MATRADE will continue to spearhead the promotion of Malaysians goods and services overseas. Our overseas offices can provide exporters with relevant market information and business linkages. Malaysian companies are encouraged to visit and participate in major events organised by MATRADE such as Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), 29 March – 2 April 2016.  and International Trade Malaysia Exhibition (INTRADE) from (date).

In terms of promotion programmes targeting the African continent , MATRADE will be organising programme in Egypt and Algeria, Specialised Marketing Mission to Cairo & Algiers in May 2016, Customized Specialised Marketing Mission to Africa covering  Nigeria in November 2016 and Specialised Marketing Mission on Logistics to Ghana & Nigeria in March 2016.

I look forward to the active participation of companies our programme.

Ladies and gentleman,

I would like congratulation Mr Ismael Nabe for his effort to establish MAPE and to members for the support in pursuing and deepening  trade between our two Nations. MATRADE looks forward to collaborating with MAPE to further deepen trade and investment linkages with Africa for a win-win cooperation.

On that note, I would once again like to record our appreciation to the guests, speakers, and all participants for your continuous support to MATRADE.

Thank you.