MATRADE to Participate in InnoTrans 2024 for the First Time
Opportunity Open for Malaysian exhibitors to be part of the national pavilion
Kuala Lumpur, August 14 (WEDNESDAY) - Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) which is Malaysia's national trade promotion agency, will for the first time take part in InnoTrans 2024, the world's leading trade fair focusing on rail transport industry. MATRADE will be organising a national pavilion consisting of 10 Malaysian companies at InnoTrans 2024 which will take place in Berlin, Germany, from 24-27 September, 2024.
According to Abu Bakar Yusof, MATRADE’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Export Acceleration), there is still time for more Malaysian companies to become part of this national pavilion. Among others, MATRADE will be organising business-to-business meetings for participants. Towards this end, MATRADE is in midst of discussions with several major European rail companies to pave opportunity for Malaysian companies to participate in their vast supply chain. Through networking with primes as well as Tier-1 and Tier-2 companies in the global rail supply chain, InnoTrans 2024 will offer a chance to highlight the skills of Malaysian rail industry and maximizing potential business.
This prestigious event will serve as a platform for MATRADE in showcasing global participants on the growth of Malaysia’s rail sector. MATRADE will underscore that this advancement will solidify our capabilities and offers a compelling ecology for global rail companies seeking cooperative ventures with local companies.
He noted that Malaysia’s participation in this iconic event is part of its efforts to continue promoting more high-value exports from sectors such as rail. This is consistent with the objectives of the New Industrial Masterplan (NIMP), which is to increase the country’s economic complexity by bolstering the Malaysian rail industry's competitiveness through the transition to higher-value activities.
InnoTrans 2024 covers all aspects of rail transport, from infrastructure to rolling stock, signalling systems, interior design and digitalization solutions. This event presents a valuable platform for Malaysian rail companies to highlight their advancement in rail technology, sustainability and industry collaboration. It will bring together industry leaders, innovators and stakeholders to explore the latest trends and developments in rail transport.
Malaysian rail companies excel at automated fare collection, electrification, communications and track maintenance. Malaysian companies are well-positioned to capitalise on global business opportunities, thanks to their sector expertise. Malaysia has competence in foreign countries in the projects such as communication networks in Vietnam, trackwork in Indonesia and the great majority of Southeast Asia's energy infrastructure.
"We have a good number of civil construction companies that have done well in the rail industry. In addition to projects in Malaysia, these firms have also been handed work in other countries. In countries like Thailand and Taiwan, our rail companies have already established a presence by building train stations, bridges, trackwork, underground transmission lines and other infrastructure," said Abu Bakar.
Malaysia’s rail exports continued its upward trend during the first six months of 2024 with a 43.8 per cent increase to reach RM320.1 million compared to RM222.6 million for same period in 2023.
In addition to attempting to boost rail products and services exports to Germany, MATRADE also hopes to improve exports of our rail expertise to the European Union (EU). The EU is one of Malaysia's most important export destination for rail products and services. In 2023, rail exports to the EU increased by 82.5 per cent to RM 12.3 million, up from RM6.7 million in 2022. The EU was Malaysia's fifth largest destination in this sector after Singapore, Taiwan, China and the United States. During the period, Malaysia's rail exports to the EU were mainly cargo containers, rolling-stock parts and signalling devices.
Malaysian companies interested to join InnoTrans 2024 can contact MATRADE by emailing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 03-6207 7934.
