Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

MATRADE was awarded the 2^nd runner-up for World Trade Promotion Organisation (WTPO) Awards 2020 for the "Best Use of Information Technology" category for MyExport online service. MyExport is a digital platform which allows Malaysian exporters to access real-time key trade information and market intelligence.

MATRADE was among six finalists nominated under the category together with other TPOs from Brazil, China, Georgia, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates.

The World Trade Promotion Organisation (WTPO) Awards 2020 was organised by the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC), a joint agency of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations.

Every two years, the ITC collaborates with a national Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) to host the TPO Network Conference. In 2020, the event was held hybrid for the first time, combining both online and on site Awards ceremony in Geneva on 14 October 2020.

This annual award recognises excellence in trade support services by the national TPOs in delivering export development initiatives to build capabilities of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to become competitive in international markets.

The award reflects the international recognition of MATRADE's efforts in digitalisation initiatives to develop innovative and effective programmes to assist Malaysian exporters, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

MATRADE encourage Malaysian exporters to utilise MyExport services frequently to leverage on the market intelligence, which is accessible real time, sourced from more than 40 MATRADE offices worldwide in penetrating the global market.

Background of The Third Country Training Programmes (TCTPs) for African Countries

Malaysia supports 139 developing countries under the framework of the South-South Cooperation since 1980 via the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP). In 1983, Japan started its Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) in Malaysia. Subsequently, Malaysia and Japan began to collaborate in 1992 to assist developing countries under the MTCP Recipient List within this TCTP arrangement. Meantime, upon the launch of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in 1993 by the Government of Japan, JICA streamlined its TCTP in line with the TICAD Initiative.

The objectives of the programme are:

• To share Malaysia’s and Japan’s experience in trade promotion among participating countries; and
• To raise awareness among participants of global and regional trade developments and issues

Course Background – TCTP: Trade Promotion for African Countries

The TCTP is a capacity building collaboration project between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of Japan with the objective of sharing Malaysian and Japanese expertise and experiences in trade promotion strategies and programmes with selected African countries.

This programme is a tripartite cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Malaysia, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) as the implementing agency or the training institution (TI).

The course aims to strengthen trade relations between Malaysia and countries of participants through:

• Fostering closer rapport among participants’ countries through sharing of expertise in trade promotion; and
• Establishing networking between MATRADE, JICA and Trade Promotion Agencies (TPOs) of participating countries to explore export opportunities for Malaysia in the participating countries as well as providing platform for networking and future collaborations

MATRADE has organised 6 TCTPs:

• Trade Facilitation for African Countries – 2013
• Trade Facilitation for African Countries – 2015
• Trade Promotion for African Countries – 2016
• Trade Promotion for African Countries – 2017
• Trade Promotion for African Countries – 2018
• Trade Promotion for African Countries – 2019

Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has been awarded by Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) as the largest Halal Trade Fair in Malaysia.

MBR is the world's top-5 accreditation body and is an official body that recognises record holders, record breakers and record creators in the country. MIHAS was awarded the record following the participation of over 580 exhibitors from 33 countries in MIHAS 2017. Among the countries that took part in MIHAS were ASEAN countries, Palestine, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, the Netherlands, Brazil, South Africa, China, Japan, Taiwan and many more. MIHAS 2017, which ended on 8 April 2017, also witnessed the participation of Austria and Finland for the first time.

The 9th TPO Network World Conference and Awards jointly organised by MATRADE and International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva was officially opened by YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry in a simple yet memorable ceremony at MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC). The conference, a biennial event first launched in 1996. The 9th conference brought together more than 200 delegates from 65 countries to address the theme "Transforming TPOs Business through Innovation".

The highlight for the conference was the TPO Network Awards Night which was graced by Datuk Rebecca Sta Maria, Secretary General of MITI, Dr. Wong Lai Sum, CEO of MATRADE and Ms Patricia Francis, Executive Director of ITC. The list of winners at this year’s award were rounded by Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) [Small Island Developing State], Uganda Export Promotion Board [Least Developed Country], ProMexico Trade and Investment (ProMexico) [Developing Country], Advantage Austria [Developed Country] and Special Mention Award to Swiss Trade and Invest (OSEC) Switzerland for its Pool of Experts initiative.

During the closing ceremony, ITC Executive Director in her remarks praised MATRADE for its professionalism in organising the 9th TPO Network World Conference and Awards, being the first time it was held in South East Asia.