Matrade posts RM302.54m in sales from trade fairs

KUALA LUMPUR: Overseas trade fairs led by Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) in 2007 and the first quarter this year have resulted in immediate sales of RM174.9 million and RM127.64 million respectively, for a total of RM302.54 million over the 15-month period. Meanwhile, the potential sales and sales-in-negotiation from these trade fairs amounted to a further RM3.64 billion and RM40.37 billion over the same periods respectively. Announcing the results of the trade promotion programmes yesterday, Matrade’s deputy chief executive officer, Dr Wong Lai Sum, said that sales achieved at the various overseas trade-promotion programmes during the 15-month period were evidence of Malaysian companies’ ability to penetrate and compete successfully in any geographic region or market.

“The biggest sales were from West Asia, North East Asia, particularly China and some of the markets in Asean,” she said, adding that the quality, brand and reputation of Malaysian products and services were now much sought after in international market. Matrade had organised the participation of 993 Malaysian companies in 71 international trade fairs worldwide in 2007 while a total of 422 Malaysian companies had participated in 20 overseas trade fair during January to March this year.

In response to the projected global economic slowdown, Wong said Matrade would increase the number of focused marketing missions abroad to possibly 24 by year-end from the current 18 with new specialised marketing missions to United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Libya, Los Angeles, Chile and Brazil. “Given the uncertainty in the global economy, we are trying to push our exports, venture into new markets and deepen our market initiaves,” she said. Wong said Matrade was also looking to expand the trade missions to include the European countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Africa, Angola and Nigeria.

She said Matrade would also focus on sectors that are fast growing and penetrate international markets in processed food products, pharmaceutical, machinery, automobile parts, building materials as well as information and communication technology sector, health and construction. In 2007, a total of 13 trade and investment missions were jointly organised by Matrade, Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Malaysian Industrial Development Authority with immediate sales amounted to RM198.3 million while potential sales and sales under negotiation stood at RM2.68 billion and RM8.86 billion respectively. Meanwhile, the General Marketing Mission to Bangladesh led by Matrade during March 17-22 has secured RM1.5 million in sales orders.

Matrade’s specialised marketing mission to Mexico during April 13-16 has also generated interests in Malaysian furniture with reported potential sales of RM27.5 million.