M'sia's Second International Trade And Industry Minister To Promote Halal Products, Services At China Fair

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- Second International Trade and Industry Minister, Ong Ka Chuan, will lead a delegation to promote Malaysian halal products and services at the 23rd Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair 2017 in Lanzhou, China, from July 6 to 9, 2017. In a statement Monday, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) said, 90 representatives from 31 Malaysian companies and various Malaysian government organisations would take part in the event. "The participation is timely as Lanzhou has been identified by the Chinese government as one of the halal trade hubs in the country, besides being China’s strategic entrance for halal products,” it said. Matrade Chief Executive Officer, Ir Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen Madros, said the participation at the trade fair would also enable Malaysia to tap into the neighbouring Muslim markets of Gansu namely Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang and nearby provinces. “Matrade, through its various export promotion initiatives, will continue to accelerate Malaysia’s exports to China given its importance to Malaysian companies, especially the small and medium enterprises,” he said. Matrade said China has been Malaysia largest trading partner for eight consecutive years since 2009. In January-April 2017, Malaysia's trade with China grew by 32.7 per cent to US$21.24 billion (RM91.36 billion), with exports surged by 42.5 per cent to US$9.13 billion (RM39.27 billion) while imports rose by 26.1 per cent to US$12.11 billion (RM52.09 billion), it said. (US$1 = RM4.29) It said the electrical and electronics, rubber and chemicals and chemical products and petroleum contributed to the increase in exports. -- BERNAMA