Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

WEDP is a gender specific, three-year export support program, targeted for women exporters. WEDP began in 2005 with the aim of encouraging competitive and sustainable women-owned companies to expand their product and services exports.

Who can apply?

Briefly, the eligibility criteria include women-owned companies where the majority or at least 51 percent of the equity is held by women. The CEO and/or Managing Director should be women. Other requirements include, being classified as a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), has been in operation for a minimum of three years, has attained some level of market visibility domestically, and has a designated business premise or manufacturing locale.

Shortlisted companies will be audited and assessed by a committee consisting of TERAJU, PUNB, MARA, MITI and MATRADE. Assessments will be based on site audits, interviews and scores on the Exporter's Readiness and Capability Assessment (ERCA) Model.

Expenses it supports and benefits of being in the programme:

WEDP is an intensive hand-holding program involving customised business coaching, skills enhancement training, international business exposure and market immersions, networking and mentoring sessions, and leadership and entrepreneurial development.

Companies in the programme receive some financial support in the form of assisted visits to international trade fairs or other international trade promotion events and selective free participation in seminars and workshops organised by MATRADE.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

What is it?

BEDP is another specialised export support program targeted specifically for Bumiputera companies. Started in 2004, it is almost identical and is managed along the same lines as the WEDP and YEDP. It is also a three-year program with the objective of growing competitive and sustainable Bumiputera exporters.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants are Bumiputera-owned companies with a majority or at least 51% equity owned by Bumiputera. The CEO and/or Managing Director should be a Bumiputera. Applicants must be classified as a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), in operation for at least three years, attained an acceptable level of market recognition/prominence in the Malaysian domestic market, and have a designated business premises or manufacturing facility.

Shortlisted applicants will be audited and assessed by a committee of entities, including PUNB, MARA, TERAJU, MITI and MATRADE. Assessments will be made after a site visit, interviews with management, as well as a tally of the scores attained on the Exporter's Readiness and Capability Assessment (ERCA) Model.

Expenses it supports and benefits of being in the programme:

Exactly like WEDP, the Bumiputera Exporters Development Programme (BEDP) comprise of several support initiatives including skills enhancement training, leadership and entrepreneurial development, network and mentoring sessions, customised business coaching and international business exposure and market immersions.

Companies in BEDP are also introduced to opportunities and competition in the international market and are given some financial support in the form of assisted visits to international trade fairs or any other international trade promotion event that fits their needs. BEDP companies are also granted a level of free participation in MATRADE-organised seminars and workshops throughout the three-year programme.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

• Must be Bumiputera-owned companies with majority or at least 51% of equity of the company owned by Bumiputera. The Bumiputera shareholding in the company can be held by either an individual or a group of Bumiputera shareholders.
• The Chief Executive Officer and/or Managing Director must be a Bumiputera . As the BEDP focuses on nurturing and developing favourable traits in the main person or the entrepreneur, the stipulation for the top leadership position (CEO/MD/or COO) to be a Bumiputera is actually rather crucial. This is because the top individual will be the one making the critical decisions and deciding on the direction of the company.
• The company must fall under the new definition of a small and medium enterprise (SME).
• The company must be in operation for a minimum of three years and has a certain level of market footprint/presence/share/dominance locally. 
• Companies dealing with merchandise goods or services must have a designated business premise or manufacturing facility with a dedicated address and not a PO Box. Bumiputera-owned companies based in Sabah and Sarawak can be given special consideration for the BEDP, on the basis of diversifying regional socio-economic growth.
• Bumiputera companies which are involved in technology-driven, high value-added and knowledge-based industries can be given preference. These types of industries include high-precision parts manufacturing, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, animation and advance surveillance systems etc.

What is it?

A specific and targeted three-year programme formulated for youths, between the ages of 20 to 40 years, who are interested or already involved in exporting. YEDP covers a broad range of sectors but gives special consideration to 'soft exports' from the creative industry such as the arts, music, fashion, lifestyle, crafts, design etc. The programme is relatively new and was started in 2014.

Who can apply?

The CEO and/or Managing Director must be between the ages 20 to 40 years. At least 51 percent of the firm's equity must be held by youths between the ages of 20 to 40 years. The company must also be in operation for at least 3 years and have some footprint in the Malaysian domestic market.

Shortlisted candidates will undergo a screening process. Prior to selection by a panel committee consisting of MARA, MITI, TERAJU, PUNB and MATRADE, a site visit will be conducted, together with interviews with management and the rating of the company done through the Exporter's Readiness and Capability Assessment (ERCA) Model.

Expenses it supports and benefits of being in the programme:

YEDP is run and managed along the same lines as WEDP and BEDP, and like its sister programmes, it is an intensive hand-holding support facility.

The support framework, much like WEDP and BEDP, involves customised business coaching and export advisory services, skills enhancement training, leadership and entrepreneurial development, networking and mentoring sessions and international business exposure and market immersions.

YEDP companies are given a level of financial support in the form of subsidised visits to international trade fairs or any other international trade promotional event that would allow for the maximum exposure, learning experience and scaling-up of the company in the international arena. Companies in the YEDP programme are also given access to free participation in seminars and workshops organised by MATRADE.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

• The majority of the equity or at least 51% of equity of the company must be in the hands of youth(s) between the ages of 20-40 years. The majority shareholding can be held by a single youth individual or a group of youths as majority shareholders.
• The Chief Executive Officer and/or Managing Director must be a youth. This set requirement for the leadership position to be held by youths is considered pertinent, as the programme emphasises on the leadership development of the individual placed in a position of power.
• Companies for YEDP must fit the national definition of a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME).
• The company must be in operation for a minimum of three years and attained an acceptable level of market footprint/presence/share/dominance locally. 
• Companies dealing with merchandise goods or services must have a designated business premise or manufacturing facility with a dedicated address and not a PO Box. Youth-owned companies based in Sabah and Sarawak can be given special consideration in the selection for YEDP, on the basis of diversifying the dispersion of regional socio-economic growth.
• SMEs which are involved in technology-driven, high value-added and knowledge-based industries will be given special focus. These types of industries include high-precision parts manufacturing, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, animation and advance surveillance systems etc.