The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has helped 13,813 local companies penetrate the global market during the 2015-2019 period through 466 export promotion activities and exporter development programmes.
Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, Datuk Lim Ban Hong said MATRADE also promoted 337 Malaysian brands from various sectors during the period. They included Petronas, Royal Selangor, Secret Recipe, Marrybrown, Brahim’s, Adabi, Tanamera, Lewre, Khind, and Upin & Ipin, he added.
Datuk Lim said among MATRADE’s initiatives in helping local businesses enter the global market include holding a Mid-Tier Companies Development Programme in collaboration with consulting firms that provide advisory services related to export affairs to the programme participants. It also provides Market Development Grants to ease the financial burden faced by local small and medium entrepreneur (SME) exporting companies. “For the January 1-August 31, 2020 period, grants amounting to RM16.42 million were channelled to 1,072 companies,” he said.
He said MATRADE has also taken proactive measures through various digital platforms to increase the country’s total exports. With the implementation of eBizMatch, a virtual business matching session, he said MATRADE has arranged 628 sessions where 423 foreign buyers have been matched with 586 Malaysian companies, generating potential sales of RM483.21 million. Exporters are also put through their paces through exporter training activities using webinar sessions. From January 1-August 31, 2020, a total of 119 webinars were organised in collaboration with various parties, including Asian Development Bank, Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, The Star, eBay and McKinsey & Co., with topics covering market updates, market promotion strategies, supply chains and the COVID-19 pandemic impact on business sustainability.