KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) plans to organise 150 foreign trade missions this year, including 85 for export promotion and 65 for export development, the Dewan Negara heard today.

"These two programmes focus among others on the food and beverage, oil and gas, medical devices as well as construction and professional services sectors," International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said today in reply to Senator Datuk Yunus Kurus' question on MATRADE's plans to promote non-food products in foreign markets.

Mustapa said his ministry will also focus on programmes for the electrical and electronics, information technology and communications, construction materials, lifestyle, automotive component and aerospace sectors.

This year's export promotion missions have included Arab Health 2016 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates in January, trade and investment missions to Peru and Mexico in May, and SEMICON West 2016 in San Francisco, the US on July 12-14, he said.

He said MATRADE's export promotion programme comprises participation in international trade expositions, export acceleration missions, international sourcing programmes and in-store promotions.

"For all these programmes, the ministry organises business matching sessions between importers and Malaysian exporters to ensure each programme generates revenue from export sales," he added.