KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) aims to achieve sales of RM450 million at the 15th China ASEAN Expo (Caexpo) 2018 in Nanning from Sept 12 -15.
Senior Director of Strategic Planning Division, Datuk Aureen Jean Nonis said MATRADE would conduct a stricter selection process of companies for participation at the expo due to limited space at the Malaysian pavilion.
“We need to select companies which can offer high-quality products, services and brands with greater capabilities to leverage on China’s huge market.There are 179 booths being offered at the Malaysian pavilion,” she told a press conference to promote the Caexpo 2018 here on Monday.
A roadshow, to be held in three places, namely Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Sarawak from today until April 25, aims to provide better insight and detailed information of the event.
Aureen also said the event had never failed to deliver its objective of increasing market access into China through a smart partnership with the country, and Malaysia’s exhibitors and government agencies last year raked in total sales of RM405.50 million.
“China has a well developed e-commerce ecosystem and the largest e-commerce market in the world. We hope that Malaysian companies can also ride on the e-commerce bandwagon to increase exports to China.
“Our eTRADE programme is to assist companies to be on e-commerce platforms like Alibaba.com, ule.com, jd.com, tmall.com and so on. While at the Caexpo, companies will have opportunities to meet up with the platform operators who frequently visit it to source for good products,” she added.
This year, MATRADE will organise the participation of the food and beverages sector, health and wellness, lifestyle, alongside selected services such as education, medical tourism and logistics.
Meanwhile, Caexpo’s Vice Secretary General, Yang Yan Yan hoped that China and Malaysia would further explore investment opportunities, particularly in the tourism sector.
“Chinese consumers are very fond of Malaysian products such as durian and white coffee. But we also look forward to enhancing the synergies between the Belt and Road routes, while helping Malaysia to attract more international investors and quality trade visitors at the event,” he added.
Caexpo is a major trade event in China.
It is sponsored by the governments of China and the ASEAN countries with the aim of promoting the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and business opportunities under the Belt and Road initiative, mainly in trade, investment and tourism.
According to the Statistics Department, from January to February this year, Malaysia’s total trade with China grew 7.9 per cent to RM46.54 billion compared with RM43.14 billion in the same period last year.
Malaysia’s total exports accounted for RM18.74 billion, up 3.3 per cent, while imports rose 11.2 per cent to RM27.79 billion.
Total bilateral trade grew 20.6 per cent to reach RM290.65 billion in 2017 compared with RM240.9 billion in 2016, while exports accounted for RM126.15 billion and imports at RM164.50 billion.