Malaysia as Country of Honour for Second Time at 19th CAEXPO 2022
THURSDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2022, KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) successfully coordinated the participation of Malaysian companies at the recent 19th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) 2022, which was held on 16 – 19 September 2022. Total of 25 Malaysian companies participated in the physical trade fair while 11 other exhibitors attended virtually in offering various Malaysian made products and services. Malaysia was privileged to be the Country of Honour again after its first time in 2011. Our participation this year is timely with recent ratification of RCEP, which marked a significant collaboration between Malaysia, China and other signatory countries.
YAB Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia delivered a keynote address virtually during the Opening Ceremony of 19th CAEXPO 2022 on 16 September 2022. In addition, YB Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, graced the Malaysia Pavilion by delivering a speech virtually. Other key government agencies such as Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysia Palm Oil Council (MPOC), Malaysia Timber Council (MTC) and Education Malaysia (EM) also participated in the physically in the Malaysia Pavilion. Tourism Malaysia organized a series of colourful activities in order to expand more interest by highlighting Malaysia as a preferred tourist attraction destination.
The sectors promoted in CAEXPO 2022 included Oil and Gas, Healthcare and Wellness, Food & Beverages and Lifestyle. Apart from the Malaysian SMEs which participated in this year’s CAEXPO, the Malaysia Pavilion featured prominent brands such as Petronas, AirAsia, Shangri – La and Sime Darby Group to showcase their products and services.
“Malaysia’s participation in CAEXPO since 2004 has successfully assisted more than 2,000 Malaysian companies with cumulated business dealing amounted to more than USD 1 billion” said YBhg. Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE at the opening ceremony of Malaysia Pavilion.
During the 4 days of exhibition, MATRADE implemented various activities such as business matching sessions, live sales sessions, seminars and so on. Nearly 100 business matching sessions were organized for exhibitors. MATRADE also arranged a live streaming session with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) which attracted more than 1 million views on 18 September 2022. The Malaysia Pavilion received more than 20,000 visitors daily including Chinese VIPs and Leaders, which was an increase of more than 19% as compared to last year’s edition.
During the CAEXPO, many major concurrent programmes were co-organised by Malaysia and China authorities that included a forum to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the China Malaysia Twin Parks (CMQIP), Malaysia-China (Guangxi) Palm Oil Industry Development Summit as well as Roundtable Meeting on Investment Cooperation between China and ASEAN Countries.
Another significant programme, the 4th Malaysia-China B2B Business Matching Session 2022 on 13 – 15 September 2022, jointly organized by MATRADE, China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) Secretariat and the China Construction Bank (CCB). The event served as a kickstart to the 19th CAEXPO 2022. More than 300 business matchings were arranged for Malaysian companies and generated more than USD130 million of potential sales.
“The vast and resilient Chinese market is crucial to PETRONAS' global business strategy. PETRONAS hopes to seize the opportunities brought by the CAEXPO, such an important platform for China-Malaysian cooperation and communication, to strengthen exchanges with our Chinese partners, discuss important issues like energy security and energy transition, hoping that we can show the fruitful results of China-Malaysian cooperation to the world through the platform of CAEXPO,” said Lisy Lee, PETRONAS China Chairman.
Since 2009, China has been the largest trading partner for Malaysia for 13th consecutive years and accounted for 19% of Malaysia’s total trade in 2021, valued at RM421billion, with a growth rate of 27%. Total export was recorded at RM192 billion in 2021, the highest value thus far, while total import was RM229 billion. Trade with China during the first eight months of 2022 rose by 19.2% to RM316.72 billion compared to the same period of 2021. Exports increased by 14.2% to RM135.36 billion following higher exports of E&E products, LNG as well as metalliferous ores and metal scrap. Imports from China expanded by 23.2% to RM181.36 billion.
