THURSDAY, 25 JUNE 2020, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian exporters have been hit hard by COVID-19 because they are not able to travel overseas either to participate in trade shows or conduct face-to-face meetings with potential customers. However, they still have access to trade enquiries from foreign importers via MATRADE’s MyExport, which is a subscription-based online market intelligence platform. Outcome of the survey conducted by MATRADE in February this year has shown that 53 per cent of the respondents have generated export sales through trade leads published in MyExport. Besides trade leads, MyExport provides subscribers with access to current trade information such as Market Alerts, Product Market Studies, Trade Statistics and International Tender Notices.

According to MATRADE’s Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Wan Latiff Wan Musa, Malaysian exporters need to leverage on digital channels to ensure that engagement with customers is sustained despite COVID-19. Online trade leads posted on MyExport serve as an opportunity for Malaysian exporters to provide business offers according to customers’ request. This trade intelligence is updated on a daily basis by 46 MATRADE Trade Commissioners across the globe.

“Leveraging on the digital platforms has become a new normal for businesses not only to survive but also to stay visible in the export market. To complement the trade leads, MyExport provides updated market information to ensure that Malaysian exporters are kept abreast on the latest international business trends and export opportunities. I believe in the present situation, online platform is vital for Malaysian exporters to get connected with potential foreign buyers which might translate into real business deals,” Wan Latiff said.

In 2019, MyExport published 4,157 trade leads from importers in 112 countries wanting to source products and services from Malaysia. Meanwhile as of June 2020, a total of 1,158 leads were posted in MyExport. Among the products that are highly sought after by foreign companies include prepared food, building and construction materials, chemicals, furniture as well as automotive parts and components. During this pandemic, medical products including medical gloves, face masks, hospital gowns and sanitisers topped the list. These enquiries are received from all over the world including USA, Europe, India, Africa, Latin America, besides countries in ASEAN.

MyExport which currently has nearly 13,000 subscribers also allows Malaysian exporters to assess their export readiness through Export Readiness Assessment Tool (ERAT) and check their application status of MATRADE’s programmes and export facilitation. Malaysian companies can register for MyExport at https://myexport.matrade.gov.my