Press Releases 2014

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is encouraging Malaysian exporters to look into the Brazilian beauty market for business opportunities as the Brazilian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (ABIHPEC) recently has announced that by 2020, Brazil will become the second largest market in the world.

Brazil is now the world's third largest cosmetic and beauty care products market in the world after the USA and Japan, which also includes green cosmetics, with total demand growing more than 10 per cent since 2012. Among the high demand products include hair care, men’s and children’s products, cosmetics and skin care products.

According to Trade Commissioner of MATRADE Sao Paulo, Mr. Yusram Yusup, “There is also a growing demand for green cosmetic products as people become more aware of their surroundings and usage of chemicals in everyday products. Besides supplying finished cosmetics and toiletry products, other opportunities for Malaysian exporters to tap into this market are by distributing the green and eco-friendly raw materials to the local cosmetic and toiletries manufacturers.”

“Malaysian companies should also consider appointing a representative or distributor in Brazil due to language barriers and different business culture. It is advisable for Malaysian exporters to conduct a market research before securing an agent, representative or distributor in the market,” he added.

In 2013, the total market size for cosmetics in Brazil was valued at RM45 billion with imported cosmetics & toiletries accounting for 8.1% of the domestic consumption, according the Brazilian Association of Personal Hygiene, Perfumery and Cosmetics (ABIHPEC). Among the high demand products include perfumes, cosmetics, skin care and bath products. Malaysian companies can contact MATRADE Sao Paulo to obtain further information on doing business in Brazil.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) today announced the launch of its e-Trade programme with Alibaba which aims to accelerate export of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through participation in leading international e-marketplace. Application to the programme is now accessible through MATRADE’s portal www.matrade.gov.my.

The collaboration with Alibaba will provide opportunity for Malaysian SMEs to reach out to hundreds of millions of online buyers worldwide. Approved SMEs will be given an e-voucher worth RM1,000, which they can use to pay part of the Alibaba e-TRADE Global Gold Supplier Package’ subscription fee of RM2,000.

MATRADE as the lead implementing agency for this initiative said the e-Trade, which is a project under Digital Malaysia, will be implemented in stages. For the first phase, MATRADE targets to attract 2,625 SMEs to sign up for this programme in 2014. e-Trade is open to SMEs in various sectors; manufacturing, services and trading subject to certain eligibility criteria.

In order to be eligible for the e-Trade programme, SMEs must fulfill the SME definition; have at least 60% Malaysian equity; incorporated under Companies Act 1965; provides made in Malaysia products and services; registered as MATRADE members and minimum rating of 4 Star under SME Competitiveness Rating for Enhancement (SCORE), as well as export ready as qualified by MATRADE’s Readiness Assessment, or currently exporting.

Through this programme, MATRADE hopes that SMEs will enhance their market outreach and competitiveness through online business. To promote and disseminate information about the e-Trade programme, MATRADE will be organising several Awareness Programmes in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuantan, Terengganu, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

For further information, please contact Exporters Training Unit at MATRADE at 03-62077436/ 7138 or email to Alamat emel ini dilindungi dari Spambot. Anda perlu hidupkan JavaScript untuk melihatnya. or Alamat emel ini dilindungi dari Spambot. Anda perlu hidupkan JavaScript untuk melihatnya..

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, KUALA LUMPUR: The inaugural Malaysia Fashion Week (MFW), a collaborative effort between Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and STYLO International, a fashion event organiser will debut Malaysia in Paris, France at the World Fashion Week (WFW) from 30 September 2014 – 4 October 2014. The event will witness the Global Media Launch of the upcoming inaugural MFW, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur from 17 – 22 October 2014,

Aside from celebrating Paris as a fashion capital, WFW is a new global fashion platform that offers the opportunity to general consumers, press, media professionals and international buyers to connect with talents and create new bridges of commerce and understanding among the diverse multicultural global fashion world. MATRADE will be showcasing products from 10 Malaysian designers for clothes, footwear and interiors during the event. The showcase will feature Dato' Radzuan Radziwill, Khoon Hooi, Melinda Looi, Bon Zainal, Fairuz Ramdan, Joe Chia, Hazree Wahid, Nelissa Hilman, Lewre and Pink Jambu.

International advocates of fashion whose work have impacted the industry on a global scale are to be honoured at WFW. However, the biggest honour of all will be bestowed upon Malaysia’s biggest fashion export, Datuk Professor (Dr) Jimmy Choo. Datuk Choo will be honoured with the World Fashion Organisation’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifetime contribution to the growth of fashion on a global level.

Marking its debut as a national and international event, the Malaysia Fashion Week (MFW) 2014 will bring together Malaysian and international fashion distributors to Kuala Lumpur from 17-22 October 2014 with a trade exhibition called FACIT (Fashion, Art, Cosmetics, Interiors and Textile). FACIT is the lifestyle component of International Trade Malaysia (INTRADE) 2014, organised by MATRADE and is a successful international trade exhibition that has been running for the past 7 years.

With support from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), MFW will mark the first dedicated trade fashion event organised by a government agency in partnership with the private sector and its multinational collaborators at an international level.

INTRADE 2014 is expecting over 400 exhibitors from over 30 countries and 300 trade buyers from 20-22 October 2014 and will be hosted at Menara MATRADE, Kuala Lumpur. The event will be opened to the public from 2:00pm to 10:00 pm on the final day (22 Oct 2014).

TUESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER, 2014, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) organised an Incoming Buying Mission (IBM) in conjunction with Malaysia Oil & Gas Services Exhibition and Conference (MOGSEC) 2014 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from 23 to 24 September 2014.

A total of RM722 million sales were recorded during the event encompassing the potential collaboration in bio-ethanol construction works and pilot plant, non-destructive testing (NDT), NDT rope access, process automation system, consultation and training services and oil and gas products such as filters, pipes, bolts and fasteners.

Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud the Deputy CEO of MATRADE said “We received positive feedbacks from the foreign buyers as well as Malaysian companies toward this IBM programme. The generated sale also reflects the confidence of the foreign buyers towards Malaysia’s expertise and capabilities in the oil and gas sector.

“The buyers are looking forward to have the similar programme in the future. They said that this is a good platform for them to explore Malaysia’s expertise for future collaboration”, added Dato’ Dzulkifli.

MATRADE had pre-arranged 119 business meetings between 12 foreign buyers from Japan, Myanmar, Norway, Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya, Korea and Qatar with 74 of Malaysia’s oil and gas players.

Over the next ten-years, Malaysia will see larger growth in gas production than in crude oil, through EOR and new deepwater project. Malaysia has 4.0bn barrels (bbl) of proven oil reserves at the start of 2014 and 2.35trn cubic metres (tcm) of proven gas reserves.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in collaboration with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia, successfully organised Pre-Arranged Business Meeting for an Incoming Buying Mission (IBM) programme on 17 September 2014, at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the International Construction Week 2014 (ICW 2014). Malaysian companies generated total sales of RM102.96 million from the meetings arranged.

MATRADE pre-arranged 97 business meetings for international buyers from Japan, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, India and Hong Kong with 42 Malaysian construction companies. Services sourced during the event included consultancy and project management, planning for commercial and housing development and construction of road. Products that generated interest during the event were lightings and furnishings, various types of furniture, building materials, as well as sanitary ware and bathroom products.

Apart from the pre-arranged business meetings for the IBM, five seminar sessions on business opportunities available in the construction and its related industries were also organised from 17 to 19 September. Seminar topics were on Infrastructure and Investment Opportunities in the Republic of Guinea, The Emerging of Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Investment Opportunities in the Construction & Related Industries in Indonesia, Investment Opportunities in South Africa, and The Construction & Infrastructure Opportunities in The Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

ICW was one of the biggest events for the construction industry in Malaysia. The event allowed industry players opportunities related to keep abreast of the latest developments in the construction and industries, expanded networking and strategic relations with captains of the industries as well as promoting innovative products, designs, and services. ICW 2014 was participated by over 300 participants from 24 countries.

Malaysian companies that are interested to explore opportunities for projects and investment available in the international market can contact MATRADE for more information.