Matrade Continues To Leverage On Counterparts In China To Boost Exports

By Samantha Tan BEIJING, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) will continue to leverage its counterparts in China to aggressively expand exports, says its trade commissioner in Beijing, Kua Kiat Chye. He said MATRADE was actively promoting and branding Malaysian products and services in the Chinese market namely healthcare, franchising, furniture, automotive, machinery and parts as well as technologies. Without sharing facts and figures of trade outlook between Malaysia and China, Kua said performance has exceeded expectation and the trade promotion agency would continue to promote Malaysian products and services. He said currently there were four potential Chinese buyers who recently participated in MATRADE's International Sourcing Programme (ISP), who are keen to source products and services from Malaysia as well as collaborate with local companies. "There are four companies interested in supplements and health products, foods and beverages as well as toiletries and personal care products," he told reporters after launching the Malaysia Kitchen Programme themed, "Taste of Malaysia" in collaborationn with China World Hotel here Saturday. Kua said Chunbo.com, a Chinese-based e-commerce platform offering healthy, safe and organic certified products to consumers, were among the otential partners. Asked on the potential deals, he said it was too early to target, however, the volume was expected to be large as it was a long-term partnership. Commenting on exports to China, Kua said it was on an upward trend in October, expanded 25.9 per cent or RM1.89 billion to RM9.19 billion, thus maintaining a year-on-year growth for eight consecutive months since March. The growth was driven by significant increases in exports of electronic products mainly integrated circuits, metalliferous ores, manufactures of metal, petroleum products and, chemicals and chemical products. For the first ten months of this year, Malaysia's trade with China expanded 11.6 per cent to RM189.37 billion. Exports rose 11.3 per cent to RM83.42 billion while imports increased 11.9 per cent to RM105.95 billion. This was attributed mainly to higher exports of petroleum products, metalliferous ores, electronic products as well as chemicals and chemical products. -- BERNAMA