Press Releases 2015
Malaysian Products Making Inroads into Mauritius
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015, KUALA LUMPUR: Recognising opportunities for Malaysian companies in the African region, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) led a Specialised Marketing Mission (SMM) to Port Louis, Mauritius with participation of 50 business representatives from 34 Malaysian companies.
The mission which was held from 19 - 22 May 2015 generated RM 71.47 million worth of potential export sales through 576 business meetings with 215 Mauritian buyers. Products and services that were sourced during the mission included building and construction materials, disposable medical devices (syringes and gloves), renewable/green technologies, food and beverages (snacks and confectioneries, cocoa products, pre-mixed beverages, seasoning and sauces) as well as electronic devices for remote monitoring and control for home and business.
According to MATRADE Johannesburg which also covers Mauritius, “The mission was a follow up to the trade mission in March 2014 led by YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade & Industry”. The office added that Malaysian brands across a variety of sectors are well known in Mauritius and have built a reputation for quality products and value for money.
Based on feedback, Malaysia could offer more products and services which are still not available in the Mauritian market. Despite a relatively small population of 1.2 million, Mauritius’ tourism sector has generated demand for related products and services for the hospitality industry as well as for the local population.
Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Mauritius in 2014 amounted to RM 360.75 million. Exports to Mauritius stood at RM 352.98 million while imports were RM 7.77 million. The main products exported to Mauritius were processed food, non-metallic mineral products, chemicals & chemical products and wood products.
For more information on Mauritius market, contact MATRADE by emailing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Details on the latest trade promotion programmes are available at www.matrade.gov.my
Malaysian Healthcare Companies Shine during Buying Mission
MONDAY, 6 JULY, 2015, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) together with Ministry of Health, Malaysia and Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia (APHM), has successfully organised an Incoming Buying Mission in conjunction with the APHM International Healthcare Conference and Exhibition 2015.
The buying mission which was held on 15 – 16 June 2015 generated sales of RM39.63 million (US$10.71 million). A total of 268 business meetings were held between 19 international buyers and Malaysian exporters of medical devices and pharmaceuticals. The buyers were from Republic of Korea, Turkey, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
Major products interested and sourced by the foreign buyers were hospital furniture, respiratory products, chemotherapy products, surgical instruments, catheters, syringes & needles, medical disposables such as examination & surgical gloves, condom and masks, pharmaceuticals products and IT healthcare system.
The cooperation between MATRADE, the Ministry of Health and APHM have resulted in a successful buying mission with positive outcomes for Malaysian healthcare companies seeking to expand into international markets.
MATRADE and the industry will continue to work together to ensure our continued presence at world’s leading events for medical devices and pharmaceuticals industry. The forthcoming events by MATRADE to promote the healthcare products will see Malaysian companies’ participation at Medical Fair Thailand from 10-12 September 2015, CPhI Worldwide 2015, Paris from 13-15 October 2015 and MEDICA Dusseldorf, Germany from 16-19 November 2015. Interested Malaysian companies may contact MATRADE or login to www.matrade.gov.my to obtain information about these events.
Malaysian Aerospace Industry Maintains Momentum at Paris Air Show 2015
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian companies that participated in the Specialised Marketing Mission organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) at the recently concluded Paris Air Show 2015 realised export sales valued at RM602.9 million.
Malaysian companies which received strong support from the buyer’s community at Paris Air Show 2015 included companies involved in areas such as MRO services, precision machined parts and tooling parts, conditioned-based maintenance, aircraft & engine structural integrity testing, analysis of flight data recorder, aerospace R&D, aerospace aviation and aero-manufacturing for both commercial & defence services and equipment.
Apart from France, the Malaysian companies also concluded sales from buyers in countries such as Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, Philippines, Algeria, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
The event which was held at Paris Le Bourget, France from 15-21 June 2015 involved the participation of 10 Malaysian companies and all the Malaysian companies would like to continue their participation in the next Paris Air Show 2017, due to the success of the event this year. A total of six MOUs were signed by 4 Malaysian companies with buyers from France, The Netherlands, and Spain including Airbus, Safran-Snecma, Cadmes and CT Ingenieros.
According to Mr. Md Silmi Abd Rahman, the Director of Transport, Logistics, Machinery and MRO Section of MATRADE, Paris Air Show provides a platform for Malaysian companies to further promote their products and services to the European market and serves as a stepping stone for globalisation. ‘Aerospace industry, especially in France has recognized Malaysia's capabilities. The confidence shown by the French companies towards Malaysian suppliers and service providers creates further confidence to the other key players in the industry’, he added.
This is MATRADE's second participation at the Paris Air Show. Apart from Malaysia’s participation, the event also attracted the national pavilions from Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Turkey, including Indonesia and Singapore from ASEAN.
In total 2,303 companies from 40 countries showcased their products and services with 130 aircrafts displayed and 351,000 visitors attended the event.
‘Our marketing efforts were done through B2B meetings, networking event with major players of the industry as well as business seminars collaborated with GIFAS,’ Mr. Silmi added.
Malaysian exhibitors were involved in two networking events which provided them with opportunities to meet other exhibitors especially those from Turkey, Germany and Spain. Besides that, MATRADE overseas offices also arranged business meetings with organisations such as Safran-Snecma, French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS), Dassault, Thales and Airbus. Malaysian companies presented their company capabilities to more than 25 important decision makers in a seminar organized by GIFAS. MATRADE also leveraged on the event to meet up with relevant organisations for market intelligence and access.
Business Opportunities for Malaysian Exporters in Chile’s Automotive Parts Market
THURSDAY, 2 JULY, 2015, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) urges Malaysian exporters to explore the business opportunities in Chile’s automotive parts market which is seeing a rapid growth in demand in 2015.
Many of the automotive services centres and distribution companies in Chile serve the country’s huge mining and agriculture industries. The mining companies either own their mining equipment and passenger vehicles fleet or are serviced by the transport companies in Chile which also provides maintenance services to their vehicles.
There is also a need to serve Chile’s vast public transportation either the urban area buses in populated cities as well as the long-distance express buses that goes from North to the South of Chile daily.
According to MATRADE’s Trade Commissioner in Santiago, Ms. Noor Ezzwanee Ahmad, “Exporters interested to supply to Chile’s automotive parts market should be aware that price is an important factor in their purchase consideration due to rising competition from other countries. To compete in Chile, Malaysian exporters may need to lower their profit margins in the initial stages of market penetration. We need to be as aggressive and committed as the American, European, Chinese and other Asian competitors in marketing while maintaining quality and service”.
“Apart from that, some Chilean importers would request a different specification to meet the local industry requirement, so exporters should be flexible with their production to accommodate the request”, she added.
There is ample opportunities in the aftermarket parts and accessories market since there are approximately 4 million vehicles in Chile and nearly 50% of cars in use in Chile may be over 10 years old. Consumers in Chile seek for quality and they are willing to pay more for a replacement part that will last. It is estimated that the automotive parts market in Chile in 2015 is nearly USD2 billion, with imports accounting for almost 70%.
Malaysian Capabilities in Construction Sector Well Accepted By Qataris at MSE Doha 2015
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015 KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian companies involved in the recent Malaysia Services Exhibition (MSE) in Doha, Qatar, had successfully generated total sales of RM351.55 million throughout the 4-day event held from 4 to 7 May 2015. The MSE was organised by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and took place in conjunction with Project Qatar 2015 : The 12th International Construction Technology and Building Materials Exhibition 2015.
MATRADE had pre-arranged a total of 1,032 business meetings between the 10 participating Malaysian exhibitors with Qataris’ and foreign companies. Among the services and products featured at MSE Doha were architectural services, engineering services, nano-coating products, waste-bins, benches, glass products, aluminum doors and windows, washroom hygiene products, air conditioners, as well as LED lightings and systems.
MATRADE had also organised several networking business sessions and business visits to several upcoming projects in Qatar among which included the FIFA World Cup Stadiums, the new Doha International Airport, Barwa Commercial Avenue and Urjuan Project, Lusail Development, Entertainment City Qatar, Doha Metro Project and The Amphibious 1000.
Project Qatar 2015 was officiated by the Minister of Economy and Commerce for the State of Qatar, H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al-Thani. The opening ceremony was attended by officials from ministries, embassies, industry professionals, and decision makers of companies from various industries.
Qatar’s construction sector has a diverse portfolio comprising infrastructure projects that worth an estimated USD200 billion. Project Qatar is considered an effective platform and gateway for Malaysian companies in the construction industry to enter the dynamic and developing Middle East markets. The participation of Malaysian companies in Project Qatar 2015 had further enhanced the presence and availability of Malaysian capabilities in Qatar and within the Gulf region as well.
Major projects in Qatar involving Malaysian participation include the construction of the Al Wahda Arches and Visitors’ Center in Doha worth RM269.2 million, renovation works of Khalifa Olympic Stadium (RM113 million), design and fabrication works of National Museum of Qatar (Package 2) project (approximately RM134 million), construction, completion and maintenance works of the New Headquarters for the Ministry of Interior in Doha (RM1.36 billion), and a joint venture project of Lusail Development Project in Doha (RM1.2 billion).
In 2014, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Qatar was valued at RM3.93 billion. Malaysia’s exports to Qatar were valued at RM1.19 billion, while imports valued at RM2.74 billion. Malaysia’s major exports to Qatar were electrical and electronic products, valued at RM409.4 million, iron and steel products (RM303.1 million), machinery, appliances and parts (RM64.9 million), manufactures of metal (RM56.4 million) and wood products (RM43.0 million). Malaysia’s main imports from Qatar were crude petroleum, valued at RM1.71 billion, chemicals and chemical products (RM427.5 million), petroleum products (RM315.9 million), LNG (RM167.6 million) and manufactures of metal (RM108.2 million).
