KUALA LUMPUR: The National Export Council has planned a roadmap to boost Malaysia’s competitiveness in the international market.

The government-backed body held its first meeting in Putrajaya chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to put in place the comprehensive roadmap to enhance the nation’s exports amid uncertainties in the global market.

The council, which was set up in December, said the planned initiatives will address the gaps in the export eco-system.

“It will deepen market access for exporters through market linkers, industry specialists and specialised promotion programmes,” it said in a statement.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will also be included and the resilient ones will be “internationalised” through customised programmes such as Go-Ex.

The contribution by SMEs to export is still relatively small at 16.9 per cent and is earmarked to grow to a target of 25 per cent by 2020.

The council also intends to ramp up exports through champions and mid-tier companies.

There are close to 10,000 mid-tier companies (annual revenues between RM50 million to RM500 million in the manufacturing sector and between RM20 million to RM500 million in other sectors).

Selected mid-tier companies will receive customised assistance to enhance their market access worldwide and to strengthen their export capabilities.

Export promotion programmes among export-related government agencies will be better coordinated.

These strategic action plans will be aligned with sectors targeted under the government’s 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) and the National Key Economic Areas.

“The Council intends to enhance exports through better facilitation including improving processes, procedures, regulations and documentation for exports, infrastructure, certification requirements and logistics.”

Some of these initiatives will be implemented through the National Logistics Task Force that has been established.

Trends and developments in the digital world create new marketing channels in the e-space.

Among the initiatives that have been introduced include the eTrade programme, a collaborative effort between Matrade and Multimedia Development Corporation.

This programme, it said, will provide greater visibility for SMEs through leading international e-marketplaces to generate export growth.