MATRADE is Now a Naming Rights Partner for QPR’s Loftus Road Stadium
LONDON, October 28 – The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is thrilled to announce its new agreement as the naming rights partner for Queens Park Rangers (QPR) Football Club's iconic Loftus Road Stadium in London, United Kingdom.
As Malaysia’s lead agency for the promotion of Malaysian-made products and services for export, the naming rights agreement is a highly valuable platform for raising MATRADE’s profile and visibility significantly in the United Kingdom.
Combined with the UK’s proposed accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CTPPP), MATRADE will be utilising this valuable QPR stadium platform to further raise Malaysia’s profile as an open trading nation and expand trade, particularly when football matches or other sporting events are being broadcast from the 18,169-pax capacity Loftus Road Stadium.
The stadium was officially renamed to MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium in a ceremony by the Chairman of MATRADE, Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, accompanied by the co-owner of Queen Park Rangers football club, Datuk Ruben Gnanalingam Abdullah, who is also the board of director of MATRADE, during a visit to the stadium on 28 October 2023. Also present at the ceremony were the High Commissioner of Malaysia to the United Kingdom, Dato' Zakri Jaafar, senior board of director of MATRADE, Dato' Hazimah Zainuddin and Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE, Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz said: “The UK is the world’s sixth largest economy. Trade between Malaysia and the UK currently stands at RM17.58 billion (£3.24 billion), and this is set to grow with the UK’s imminent accession to the CPTPP. To that end, the MATRADE Loftus Road Stadium stands as a valuable branding platform and marketing tool in raising Malaysia’s profile in the UK and enhancing opportunities for Malaysian exports to this market.”
Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican said MATRADE will capitalise on this valuable platform to enhance its global recognition as a trusted agency to connect trade between Malaysia and United Kingdom by leveraging QPR’s long-standing history in the English Football League.
“When I initiated the proposal for MATRADE to rebrand itself after 30 years of its establishment, I see that the naming rights partnership is an opportunity for MATRADE to elevate our brand visibility in Europe and the international scene as a whole,” he added.
The three-year collaboration marks an innovative first for both MATRADE and QPR, uniting sports and trade promotion in a fresh, exciting way. The full cost of the naming rights partnership, valued at GBP 1.2 million (GBP 400,000 per year) will be absorbed by QPR’s Malaysian co-owner, Datuk Ruben Gnanalingam Abdullah, who is also a Board member of MATRADE, as part of his Corporate Social Responsibility to Malaysia.
Lee Hoos, Chief Executive Officer of QPR, said the decision to render the naming rights of the stadium was made with the commercial interests of the club.
“We are delighted with this agreement as the club is always looking at ways to increase our portfolio of partners. We look forward to working with MATRADE,” he added.
