MATRADE TARGETS US$10 BILLION IN TRADE WITH PAKISTAN

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has target US$10 billion in trade with Pakistan by 2015.

The Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ahmad Shahizan Abd Samad said
as of last year, Malaysia had registered US$1.8 billion in trade with that
country.

"After 52 years of bilateral relations, trade between both countries
is however not significant.Despite the negative perception of Pakistan due
to security issues, there are still specific sectors considered to
being potentially lucrative for Malaysian businesses," Ahmad said during a media
briefing here Thursday.

Potential areas, that Malaysian businesses can source for opportunties, he
highlighted are, palm oil, chemicals and chemical products, electrical
and electronic products, machinery and parts, processed food,textiles and
clothing, crude rubber, wood products, iron, steel and metal products.

In 2008, Malaysia's total exports to Pakistan stood at RM5.73 billion, an
increase of 33.04 percent from the RM4.31 billion the previous year.

Major products exported include palm oil, chemicals and chemical products,
electrical and electronic products, machinery, appliances and parts, textiles
and clothings, processed food and crude rubber.

MATRADE, according to Ahmad, will be organising a marketing mission to
Pakistan, in three locations, Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore from May 23-30
to promote Malaysian products and services as well as explore market
opportunties. (US$1=RM3.64)
--BERNAMA