KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded sales of RM402.88 million at the 21st China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), surpassing the RM320 million target.
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said that this reflects the strong and ongoing demand for Malaysian products in the Chinese market, underscoring their popularity with Chinese consumers.
The event, held from Sept 24 to 28, 2024, in Nanning, China, featured 150 exhibitors at the Malaysian Pavilion.
Matrade deputy chief executive officer Abu Bakar Yusof said through CAEXPO and other similar platforms, Malaysia aims to deepen economic and trade cooperation with China and other ASEAN countries, further strengthening its role in regional trade.
Matrade will lead Malaysia's participation in the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) from Nov 5 to 10, 2024, in Shanghai, and the 19th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) from Nov 15 to 18, 2024, in Guangzhou.
The year will conclude with the Malaysia-China Summit (MCS 2024) from Dec 17 to 19, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur.
"The MCS 2024 will be the grand finale event of this series, expected to draw significant participation from local, China as well as ASEAN, potentially recording over RM2 billion in trade and investment opportunities," Abu Bakar said.
He added that MATRADE remains focused on supporting Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in expanding their global footprint.
"By offering comprehensive trade promotion services, including market intelligence, networking opportunities, and financial assistance, MATRADE is empowering SMEs to capitalise on the vast potential of the Chinese market and compete on the international stage," he said.
Malaysia also received recognition as the top award recipient, taking home a total of five awards.
These accolades include the Best National Pavilion Award, Best Promotion on Investment Cooperation Award, Best Trade and Economic Outcomes Award, Best Exhibitor Organiser Award, and the Country of Honour Award.