ID :
61360
Tue, 05/19/2009 - 16:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/61360
The shortlink copeid
M'SIAN EXPORTERS STILL BEHIND IN TERMS OF AFTA MARKET SHARE
BY RAVICHANDRAN D.J PAUL
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) -- The Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA), the
emerging regional market, holds great potential for Malaysian exporters provided
they raised the bar to meet required product and service standards, says the
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) President Mustafa Mansur.
"Though it's undeniable that the regional market has helped cushion Malaysia
from the impact of the current international economic turmoil, local exporters
still lag behind when it comes to the export market share within AFTA.
"If we remain complacent, we are going to lose out to Thailand,
Singapore and even the Philippines within this resilient regional market,
representing a population of more than half a billion people.
"On the government's part, there has to be some political will in helping
local SMIs and SMEs become more competitive and represent a bigger market share
within AFTA.
"You have to bite the bullet or it's only a matter of time, before being
left out of the market," he told Bernama.
Mustafa noted that with more regional FTA's coming up, it was imperative
that Malaysian exporters kept pace with competitors in order to make inroads.
Matured markets like Europe and North America are more demanding while being
very conscious on issues like global warming, sustainable resources,
hazardous materials, hygiene, decent wages and human rights.
"In Malaysia, many SMEs and SMIs are indifferent to the aforementioned
issues," he said, adding that, this attitude would further restrict their future
export potential.
"In this regard, the government should evoke a paradigm shift, beginning
with stringent conditions imposed on all government procurement related to the
environment, sustainable resources, and benefits to the people and the
country," he said.
He said though non-tariff barriers still persist within the AFTA, countries
like Thailand have successfully expanded their market share within it.
"Just go to the supermarket and see the array of foodstuff and
products from Thailand on the shelves," he said, while illustrating AFTA's
potential and increasing dominance of Thai products in Asia.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) -- The Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA), the
emerging regional market, holds great potential for Malaysian exporters provided
they raised the bar to meet required product and service standards, says the
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) President Mustafa Mansur.
"Though it's undeniable that the regional market has helped cushion Malaysia
from the impact of the current international economic turmoil, local exporters
still lag behind when it comes to the export market share within AFTA.
"If we remain complacent, we are going to lose out to Thailand,
Singapore and even the Philippines within this resilient regional market,
representing a population of more than half a billion people.
"On the government's part, there has to be some political will in helping
local SMIs and SMEs become more competitive and represent a bigger market share
within AFTA.
"You have to bite the bullet or it's only a matter of time, before being
left out of the market," he told Bernama.
Mustafa noted that with more regional FTA's coming up, it was imperative
that Malaysian exporters kept pace with competitors in order to make inroads.
Matured markets like Europe and North America are more demanding while being
very conscious on issues like global warming, sustainable resources,
hazardous materials, hygiene, decent wages and human rights.
"In Malaysia, many SMEs and SMIs are indifferent to the aforementioned
issues," he said, adding that, this attitude would further restrict their future
export potential.
"In this regard, the government should evoke a paradigm shift, beginning
with stringent conditions imposed on all government procurement related to the
environment, sustainable resources, and benefits to the people and the
country," he said.
He said though non-tariff barriers still persist within the AFTA, countries
like Thailand have successfully expanded their market share within it.
"Just go to the supermarket and see the array of foodstuff and
products from Thailand on the shelves," he said, while illustrating AFTA's
potential and increasing dominance of Thai products in Asia.
-- BERNAMA
