Minister Hopes INTRADE 2011 Record US$94 Mln In Actual Sales

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamad hopes International Trade Malaysia (INTRADE) 2011 that kicked off on Tuesday will record RM300 million (US$94.085 million) in actual sales. "We hope to improve on the number recorded last year, which was about RM235 million," he told reporters at the opening of INTRADE 2011 at the Matrade Exhibition & Convention Centre in Jalan Duta here. The trade expo that ends on Nov 24 has 433 booths exhibiting export-ready goods and services from 15 countries including a record of 185 international booths. Last year's event recorded RM234.69 million in actual sales and RM4 billion in sales under negotiation, with 380 exhibitors from 12 countries showcasing their products and services. For the first time, India became the Partner Country for this year's INTRADE. Mustapa said he hoped two or three countries would become the partner countries for the event next year. He said participation by companies from the Asian region including India, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and United Arab Emirates this year was encouraging. The event also drew the participation of 813 small and medium enterprises as exhibitors as well as participants in the business matching session, he added. He said INTRADE plays a bigger part in Malaysia's move towards doubling its exports by 2015. "We are working hard to enhance the Malaysian brand in order to have a bigger share of the world market. Our objective is to double our exports in the next five years," he said. He said the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) had organised 109 trade promotion activities in 2010 and 113 this year while for 2012, a total of 124 activities had been planned. Most of these activities were targeted at high growth markets such as China and India, as well as developing countries in Asean, West and Central Asia, Africa and Latin America. Mustapa said the fastest growth in exports for January to September this year was to Brazil, India, Bangladesh, Japan and China. Meanwhile, MATRADE Chairman Mah Siew Keong said INTRADE 2011 was expected to draw over 9,000 trade visitors from 70 countries, an increase of almost 20 per cent from last year. He said the event features 10 industry clusters offering large growth opportunities in the global market place, such as automotove parts and components; electrical and electronics; food and beverages; furniture, interiors and wood; health, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care; ICT and innovations; and textile and apparels. Three concurrent events are held during INTRADE 2011, they are the Incoming Buying Mission Programme (IBM), Kuala Lumpur International Trade Forum (KLITF) and FTA@INTRADE Programme. -- BERNAMA Malaysia