National Trade Blueprint

46 National Trade Blueprint Encourage the adoption of sustainable good practices and standards, while continually investing in innovation to support the pursuit of excellence in Malaysian exports. The strategy aims to express Malaysia’s capabilities in research and development, which will improve export performance, cultivate sustainability and differentiation, and elevate the nation’s trade competitiveness. Pursuing Sustainability and Innovation In a globalised economy and increasingly competitive landscape, continuous improvement and investment in R&D is crucial to remain competitive. Businesses innovate to increase market share, capture new markets, improve product quality or choice of products, replace outdated products and reduce environmental impact to achieve the ultimate goal of sustainability. 8 Strategic Thrusts Thrust 8: FOCUS RATIONALE Establish Sustainable Manufacturing Centre to nurture sustainable practices among exporters and stakeholders Objective / Pain points Increase awareness among exporters on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how it can impact/grow trade. Key Stakeholders: MITI (Lead), MIDA, MATRADE, industry associations, chambers of commerce Action plans 1. Stakeholders should work together with industry associations (specifically related to manufacturing) and academia on setting up a Sustainable Manufacturing Centre a) This Sustainable Manufacturing Centre can be based in areas with significant manufacturing activity such as Penang or via virtual platform. b) Promote the centre to raise awareness. 8.1 Implementation timeline : Medium-term