PUTRAJAYA, June 13 (Bernama) -- The National Export Council (NEC) has formulated several initiatives to promote public-private partnerships in the quest to drive Malaysia's export growth, including through a global campaign.

The initiatives were presented at the NEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here today.

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) said the programme would entail promoting Malaysia's capabilities in areas such as trade, investment, tourism, education and healthcare to clusters of global citizens.

"It is aimed at optimising the benefits of strategic cooperation among ministries and government agencies, the private sector, government-linked companies (GLCs) and Malaysian diaspora," it said in a statement issued in conjunction with the NEC meeting.

MATRADE said this year's promotional programme is aimed at strengthening the 'Malaysia Brand' in London, Shanghai and Sydney in September, November and December, respectively.

The activities arrayed during the programme, including the Malaysia Business Forum, Malaysia Export Day, Malaysia Fest, Malaysia Flavours, Malaysia Art Exhibition, Malaysia Sales Online, and promotions in supermarkets.

MATRADE said another public-private initiative discussed at meeting was related to the 'Strategy to Enhance Higher Education Export'.

The meeting deliberated on ways to enhance cooperation between the public and private sectors in branding and marketing the country's education globally, he said.

"These include a joint promotion in premier education exhibitions abroad and the introduction of incentives to institutions of higher learning to improve infrastructure and the setting up of international research labs in Malaysia," the statement said.

MATRADE said the meeting also discussed the Malaysian Incorporated (Malaysian Inc.), which was set up recently under the National Professional Service Export Council (NAPSEC).

A membership-based organisation made up of multidisciplinary professionals in various disciplines, Malaysia Inc's main role is to identify and evaluate projects abroad and to coordinate participation in the bidding process through the formation of consortia of Malaysian companies.

The NEC, which is made up of 19 members -- 12 from the public sector and seven from private sector, -- was set up in December 2014 to spur the country's export growth.

Based on Malaysia's trade performance published early this month, the export in the first four months of 2016 grew to RM246.51 billion, a 1.2 per cent increase, while imports decreased 0.9 per cent to RM213.51 billion.

Malaysia's total trade amounted to RM460.02 billion compared with RM459.04 billion in the same period last year, MATRADE said, adding that during the period under review, the trade surplus recorded a double-digit growth of 17 percent worth RM32.99 billion.

It said Malaysia's exports in April 2016 rose 1.6 per cent to RM61.35 billion compared with that of April 2015.

The positive growth was supported by growth in exports to ASEAN countries, the United States and Taiwan, it added.

The imports declined 2.3 per cent to RM52.29 billion, while total trade stood at RM113.64 billion compared with RM113.9 billion in April 2015.