
Matrade targets RM13bil potential trade, investments at Expo 2025 Osaka
Its chief executive officer, Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz said MATRADE, through the Business Programme at the Malaysia Pavilion, helps local companies enter new markets and create impactful connections to boost investments, while showcasing Malaysia's strengths in key growth sectors.
Anchored by the pavilion's theme, "Weaving a Future in Harmony" and aligned with the expo's vision to "Design Future Society for Our Lives", he said MATRADE's strategy reflects a forward-looking approach that connects trade with the forces shaping the future.
"In this vision, trade is not separate from innovation or sustainability but part of an interconnected system, so linking people, technology and purpose positions Malaysia as a confident and collaborative contributor to shared global prosperity," he said in a statement.
Mohd Mustafa said that MATRADE's role has evolved beyond conventional trade promotion, as relying solely on product showcases and buyer introductions is no longer sufficient in today's dynamic market environment.
Hence, he said MATRADE's Business Programme embraces a more strategic approach, as global value chains evolve under the pressure of technology and geopolitics.
"Through curated engagements such as sector-specific business matching, thematic seminars, and targeted pitching sessions, the initiative is designed to build meaningful, long-term partnerships.
"With over 270 meetings held in the first month alone and RM488.88 million in sales secured, it demonstrates the impact of a more purposeful, value-led model of engagement," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Mustafa said Malaysia's participation at Expo 2025 Osaka comes at a strategically meaningful moment, a point where national ambition meets regional leadership.
He said MATRADE's approach supports key economic plans like the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the National Trade Blueprint, aiming to boost innovation, trade competitiveness, and promote high-value exports.
This momentum is further amplified by Malaysia's current role as Asean chair in 2025, positioning the country as a unifying voice for regional integration and inclusive growth, he added.
"As the sole agency driving the business programme, MATRADE is not merely showcasing Malaysian companies, but actively shaping their strategic positioning in line with broader national and regional ambitions.
"This includes facilitating direct access to key Japanese and global players, particularly in high-potential sectors such as halal, electrical and electronics, green technology, and life sciences," he said.
These engagements form part of a long-term national mission to establish Malaysia as a trusted, innovation-driven trade hub at the heart of the Asia-Pacific.
Mohd Mustafa also emphasised that Expo 2025 Osaka is an opportunity for global collaboration in future-forward ideas, with the Malaysia Pavilion reflecting this through its focus on innovation and inclusiveness.
He said the expo also offers a timely and symbolic platform to amplify Malaysia's regional voice, strengthen Asean ties, and build momentum for a more resilient and connected global economy.
"Malaysia's economic journey has long been defined by adaptation and ambition, from manufacturing excellence to digital transformation," he said.
Today, as the global economy pivots toward sustainability and innovation, Malaysia's trade diplomacy, led by MATRADE, is evolving in step with these shifts.
Hence, the Business Programme at Expo 2025 Osaka signals more than presence; it signals intent to collaborate, lead, and unlock the next wave of high-impact trade opportunities, said MATRADE.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Myanmar to exhibit about 80 booths at 22nd China-Asean Expo in September
YANGON: Myanmar will exhibit about 80 booths at the 22nd China-Asean Expo, which will be held in Nanning, capital city of South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from Sept 17 to Sept 21, state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Sunday (July 27). Myanmar will participate in the expo as the Country of Honor and explore market access for Myanmar's agro-based SMEs' products into the Chinese market, the report said, adding that Myanmar's high-quality gemstones will also be displayed at the expo. The expo provides a platform to promote the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement 3.0, it said. It helps strengthen friendship between the participating countries and generate trade benefits, it added. Myanmar joined in China-Asean Expo in 2005, the report said. - Xinhua


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Analyst: Malaysia leans on quiet engagement to seek favourable tariffs revision
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains locked in quiet engagement and possibly embracing a deliberate positioning with the United States (US) to lower the 25 per cent tariffs on its exports to the American markets as the Aug 1 deadline approaches. Unlike other Asean countries, which have struck quick deals with Washington, SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes said Malaysia's more measured response to the impending US tariffs likely reflects deliberate positioning rather than passivity. He said that contrary to countries pursuing headline-grabbing diplomacy, Malaysia often leans on quiet engagement and multilateral cooperation to navigate complex trade tensions. With the Aug 1 deadline nearing, exporters and investors are keeping a close watch on the outcome of these negotiations, which would reshape the cost dynamics of doing business between Malaysia and its third-largest trading partner. While regional peers such as Indonesia and Vietnam have already struck last-minute deals to reduce their tariffs to 19 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, Malaysia is still seeking favourable terms that safeguard local industries without compromising national interests. The proposed tariffs — a revival of protectionist measures introduced during President Donald Trump's first term — have stirred fresh uncertainties across Southeast Asia, where economies are deeply embedded in global supply chains. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has described the ongoing talks with the US as progressing well, with emphasis on striking a balanced outcome. "This low-profile approach fits with Malaysia's broader strategy, namely maintaining economic openness, avoiding entanglement in great power rivalries, and preserving regional alignment within Asean. "By staying restrained, Malaysia may be aiming to protect its long-term credibility as a stable, rules-based partner," said Innes. That said, he cautioned that the exposure is real as Malaysia's export economy is heavily tilted toward electrical and electronic goods, precision machinery, and intermediate components, many of which plug directly into US-bound supply chains. A 25 per cent tariff could disrupt flows, especially in semiconductors, sensors, and specialised modules that are difficult to reroute, he said. "The pain would be felt most in hubs like Penang, where small and medium enterprises and multinationals are deeply intertwined. "While some firms could shift volumes elsewhere, the high-tech nature of these exports makes substitution harder than it sounds," said Innes. The absence of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US limits Malaysia's negotiating toolkit, but Innes believed it doesn't shut the door entirely. He pointed out that Malaysia remained strategically important to US firms seeking reliable, non-China supply bases, which provides leverage particularly if Malaysia targets exemptions for specific sectors tied to US industrial or security interests, such as chip packaging or electric vehicle components. While countries like Indonesia have dangled major purchases to secure tariff relief, Malaysia's options are different, Innes said. "It is unlikely to buy its way into a deal with big-ticket orders. Instead, it can offer alignment, which is co-investment opportunities in green tech, digital infrastructure, or rare-earth refining," he said. According to Innes, these would support Malaysia's industrial roadmap while offering Washington something it values: supply chain resilience and diversification, but from a policy standpoint, the trade-off is nuanced. He noted that offering short-term concessions or budget support might help shield critical sectors from long-term dislocation. "But any deal must be carefully structured. It should channel benefits beyond just large exporters towards local suppliers, workers, and tech development ecosystems," said Innes, highlighting that if no deal is reached, the impact may not be catastrophic at a national level, but could be meaningful in key sectors. "Export growth could slow, investment plans may be paused, and employment could tighten in affected industries. The greater risk is longer-term: losing ground in a global supply chain reshuffle that increasingly rewards agility and alignment. Malaysia still has room to move, but the window is closing," he added. Meanwhile, Moody's Analytics economist Denise Cheok said Malaysia's economic exposure to the US through value-added trade is more significant than headline export figures suggest. Citing calculations based on OECD Trade in Value Added (TiVA) data, Cheok said that Malaysian domestic value added embedded in foreign final demand to the US accounted for slightly over 5.0 per cent of the country's gross domestic product. She noted that this includes not only direct exports of final goods but also intermediate components that eventually reach the American consumers and provide a more comprehensive measure than gross exports alone. "This compares to over 9.0 per cent of GDP for Singapore, which is highly trade-exposed, and about 2.0 per cent of GDP for Indonesia, which is more domestically focused and not as reliant on exports to the US," Cheok said. If the full 25 per cent tariff is imposed without any rerouting of supply chains, Cheok estimates the impact could shave up to 2.6 per cent off Malaysia's GDP in 2025, with the effects likely to be uneven across sectors. "The key manufacturing sector is likely to be hit hard — not only by the direct impact of the tariffs but also by global supply chain disruptions caused by the uncertainty surrounding tariff policies," she said. Cheok added that Malaysia, like many of its Southeast Asian peers, relies heavily on exports as part of its growth model, and structural changes to this would be difficult, even in the long term. "The fractured relationship between the US and its trading partners will likely continue beyond the next three years, and Malaysia should continue strengthening its trade relations with other economies, including Asean, as a counterbalance to this," she said. — BERNAMA


Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Proton International Corp eyes 6,000 export sales this year, targets tenfold growth by 2030
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Proton Holdings Bhd's international arm, Proton International Corporation Sdn Bhd (PICSB), is aiming for export sales of 6,000 vehicles this year. The company targets to double that figure next year and exceed 10 times that volume by 2030. It currently exports to 19 countries, Proton said in a statement today. PICSB chief executive officer Edmund Lim Meng Thong said the company has set ambitious targets for the next few years and is actively hiring more talent for its regional sales and marketing teams. 'We are also excited about the progress made at the Automotive High Tech Valley (AHTV), which will boost our production capability to meet growing international demand,' he said. With export sales identified as a key driver of future sales growth, PICSB is aiming to expand to the Global South while also continuing to oversee and develop sales and marketing efforts in existing overseas markets. After starting exports to Bangladesh in 1986, the national carmaker rapidly expanded its international reach, becoming the fastest-growing new car franchise in the United Kingdom by 1992, with annual sales reaching 15,000 units. By the early 2000s, Proton models were present in 64 countries globally, with the company then strategically shifting its focus to high-growth regional markets such as Asean, China, India, the Middle East, and North Africa. 'In 2025, Proton remains committed to expanding its global presence by introducing new models and technologies to international markets. 'As of this year, the company has exported 20,169 vehicles to 19 countries since 2020, making it the leading exporter of vehicles from Malaysia,' it said. Proton has announced that its Proton 7 is making an impact in export sales. Since 2020, Proton's top three exported models are the Proton Saga, with 10,998 units sold, followed by the Proton X50 with 3,986 units, and the Proton X70 with 3,316 units. It noted that the Proton 7 has risen to third place in export sales this year. 'Since its export began to Nepal and Trinidad & Tobago, a total of 233 units have been delivered. 'Since its launch in December 2024, the model has maintained strong sales with 916 units sold in May for domestic and international markets, bringing its total year-to-date (YTD) sales to 3,632 units,' Proton said. — Bernama