Solid ties: (from left), Liang, Reezal, The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia commercial counsellor Li Sa and Matrade CEO Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz at the event yesterday.
PETALING JAYA: Made-in-Malaysia products will find enormous business opportunities in China, says China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) secretariat deputy secretary-general Liang Yiguang.
Liang said these products include agricultural produce, food and beverage and consumer goods.
Malaysia continues to record a trade deficit of RM23.3bil with China in the first quarter of 2024. During that period, the country’s exports to China stood at RM 44.5bil, while imports were valued at RM 67.8bil.
“In particular, the much-loved fresh durian will be exported to China this year, which is good news for Chinese consumers.
“For trade in goods, the CAEXPO helps distinctive made-in-Malaysia products to tap into the Chinese market. For example, Malaysian bird’s nest products, durian and coffees remain most popular among Chinese buyers.
“At the CAEXPO, the Malaysia Pavilion remains one of the most popular ones.
“This year, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) will continue to use one whole hall for the Malaysian pavilion,” he said at the 21th CAEXPO promotional conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
In 2023, the China-Malaysia bilateral trade stood at RM450.8bil, making China the largest trading partner of Malaysia for 15 consecutive years.
“After 20 years, 2320 companies from Malaysia have participated in the CAEXPO, using 3264 booths.
“Through the trade show, they have made successful footholds in the Chinese market and explored market opportunities in many other countries outside the region,” Liang said.
Malaysia has been invited to be the country of honour for the CAEXPO this year, which is scheduled to be held in Nanning, China, from September 24 to 28.
The country’s selection as the country of honour for CAEXPO coincides perfectly with the 50th anniversary of the Malaysia-China diplomatic relationship.
Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the Malaysia pavilion will be given special highlights, boasting a significantly larger pavilion and providing ample space for local companies to showcase a wider range of offerings.
This time around, Matrade is targeting to bring 150 local companies to the event.
“For the past 20 editions, the event attracted more than 2,000 Malaysian companies, particularly small and medium enterprises and generated over RM6.3bil sales, attributed by the 1.3 million exhibitors and buyers to CAEXPO,” he said.
Reezal added despite the challenges of the world economy that affects international trade, China remained Malaysia’s largest trading partner and primary source for imports in 2023.
“Likewise, Malaysia was China’s 10th largest global trading partner as well as the second largest trading partner within Asean.
“Notably, Malaysia was China’s largest source of imports among Asean countries. This highlights the importance and immense potential of the China market for Malaysian businesses,” he said.
Reezal said Matrade has proven to deliver and provide assistance and strong support to companies, which can be simplified into 3S’s, namely strategic support, sales prospect, and systematic assistance on the ground.
“In providing strategic support, Matrade, as the nation’s trusted agent, groom Malaysian businesses into the global market.
“Companies interested to export to China may avail themselves to numerous support such as exporters training and development, market research and competitor analysis where they will be equipped and updated on the latest and upcoming trends in the China market,” he said.
Given the vast China market, Reezal said it is no surprise that entering that market will increase the sales prospects of businesses, and CAEXPO is the perfect place for that.
He added that Matrade goes beyond just offering booth spaces.
It also provides business matching and networking opportunities with quality buyers through pre-arranged business matching meetings that will be organised in collaboration with the CAEXPO secretariat, China Construction Bank and supported by the Chinese embassy in Malaysia.
“Matrade also supports local companies for promotion through digital marketing platforms utilising key opinion leaders in social media, live streaming sessions, as well as media interviews with local and Malaysian media.
“In fact, Matrade also leverage on a special collaboration with The Star Media Group to generate wider publicity for our participants to enhance their brand visibility,” he said.
One of the key highlights of the CAEXPO this year is that it will be extended to five days.
Further, Liang said an Asean high-tech gallery, showcasing high-tech products and self-developed brands of Asean countries, will be set up for the very first time.
“This gallery represents an important measure to boost digital economy and green economic cooperation.
“We welcome Malaysian high-tech companies to bring and showcase their new products, technologies and applications related to green economy, digital economy, automobile industry, maritime and health sectors at the gallery.
“We will provide preferential booth rates as much as possible for Malaysian companies,” he said.
The exhibition event will also see the participation of more countries beyond the China-Asean region.
“United Arab Emirates is invited, for the first time, as a special partner country, and will organise buying missions to the CAEXPO. Kazakhstan and other member countries will also bring their products for display,” Liang said.
The CAEXPO is an important driver for the China-Asean Free Trade Area.
Liang said the bilateral trade volume between China and Asean registered only US$78.3bil when the first CAEXPO was held in 2004.
“In 2023, it soared to US$911.7bil, up by 12% annually. The two-way investment volume now exceeds US$380bil,” he said.
