Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

Thursday, February 11th, 2016, Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) in a collaboration with Generasi Muda Berjaya (GMB) launched a specialised programme targeting Bumiputera youth called Generation of New Exporters (GenEX). The programme was launched at Menara MATRADE today by Minister of International Trade & Industry YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed.

Aimed at increasing Bumiputera youth’s involvement in export, GenEX came about as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding between MATRADE and GMB that was signed at Kongres 2015, organised recently by GMB.

MATRADE’s Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud said, “The programme is timely and will help push the youth in business to venture more into export. MATRADE as the country’s trade promotion agency will render its full support in terms of capacity building for the participants in this programme.”

Via the programme, GMB will be scouting for 100 youth-owned companies in Malaysia to be GenEX’s participants. The criterion for the participants are – Malaysian Bumiputera youth companies, provide any high-potential products/services, have a sound business plan, apply good ethics and best practices in business and are export-ready.

Of the 100 participants, 30 will stand a chance to start exporting their products or services to five countries namely United Kingdom, Dubai, Singapore, the Netherlands and Qatar. In the programme, the youth business owners also will have an opportunity to pitch for fund for their export business.

GMB’s President Agil Faisal Ahmad Fadzil mentioned, “Companies that are not selected will still be able to market their offerings through the Malaysian Brand Outlet (MBO) in Singapore’s Arab Street and MBO Kedai Mesra.”

In an effort to accelerate Malaysia’s performance in export, the Government through its ministries and agencies will continue to encourage more Malaysian companies to be part of export. Malaysian youth who are business owners have been recognised as the main players in helping the nation move towards this direction.

“This strategic collaboration between MATRADE and GMB will not only generate new talents in export but allow youth-owned businesses to be the catalyst to job creations, apart from increasing the country’s income through export,” Dato’ Dzulkifli opined.

He adds that Malaysian youth-owned companies should also leverage on MATRADE’s 46 international offices to link with potential buyers from around the world.