MITI announced on 10 September 2009 allowing traders and distributors to export ordinary Portland cement (OPC). The decision was based on consultations with industry, including the Cement and Concrete Association of Malaysia (C&CA). Previously, the Export Licence (AP) for OPC was only granted to local manufacturers of cement. The decision to allow traders and distributors to export OPC was taken to ensure the competitiveness of the cement industry, especially during the current economic downturn. Extending the AP to traders and distributors will assist the local industry to access new markets through contacts and networking established by traders/distributors with end users. Conditions for the issuing of AP to traders and distributors include: ? confirmation of Local Availability (CLA) from C&CA must be submitted to MITI prior to issuance of AP; and ? information on the source of supply (letter from manufacturer) must also be included in the CLA. The CLA is essential to ensure...

Malaysian businesses should capitalise on their competitive edge in the service sectors to tap preferential trade facilities under the China-Asean Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), said International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. “I see there is less competition in the services sector as it is totally different from other sectors..it very much depends on quality. “I think Malaysians have certain inherent advantages that we should make full use of,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the “2010 FOCAFTA” seminar here on Thursday. Mukhriz said there was massive construction going on in many parts of China where Malaysian companies could provide architecture or design services to China. “China can look up to our capablities in this aspect. This is one area we can pursue further,” he said, adding that China was a huge market which also offered business opportunities in several other sectors for Malaysians. Mukhriz said if Malaysian businesses...

The ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement (AIFTA) came into effect on 1 January 2010 for Malaysia and India. It is a remarkable milestone towards a freer market environment, and an important agreement for Malaysia as India is emerging as an important trading partner as well as a market for Malaysian exports. This FTA creates a market of 1.7 billion people with combined GDP of US$2.8 trillion and combined global trade of over US$2 trillion. Under the AIFTA, ASEAN Member States and India have agreed to progressively reduce and eliminate duties on substantial number of products over a period of 3-8 years beginning 1 January 2010. The Philippines, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam are given an additional 2-3 years to reduce and eliminate their duties under this FTA. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed says that Malaysia is committed to eliminate import duties on 6,792 products or tariff lines by 31December 2013, while duties on another 1,266 tariff lines would be eliminated by 31 December...

Export numbers for December 2009 show a 9.2% rise to RM54.67 billion from the preceding month. With exports overall for the year having contracted only 16.6% compared to the earlier forecast of 20%, more green shoots are coming through. Recovery was led primarily by the recovery in the electrical and electronics sector which accounted for 41.2% of Malaysia’s total exports Where’s it all going? The top five destinations were Singapore, China, Japan, the US and Thailand making Asia the main destination. China’s share of Malaysia’s total exports almost doubled in the five year period to 2009. It was 12.2% as compared with 6.6% in 2005. If taken in combination with Hong Kong, China is now Malaysia’s largest export destination accounting for 17.4% of total exports. We forecast exports will grow by 3.5% this year as they continue along the path towards recovery. In the meantime we will strive to strengthen existing FTAs as well as negotiate and conclude ongoing...

KUALA LUMPUR 22 Feb. - Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed secara rasmi menyertai komuniti maya apabila melancarkan Facebooknya - usaha terbaik mendampingi rakyat dengan berkongsi idea dan pandangan. Facebook Mustapa mula diaktifkan sejak 21 Disember 2009 dan sejak dua bulan lalu telah mempunyai seramai 669 peminat yang terdiri daripada pelbagai latar belakang termasuk dari luar negara. Pelancaran laman sosial itu diadakan dalam Majlis Ramah Mesra Bersama Anak-Anak Kelantan sekitar Lembah Klang di kediaman beliau di sini semalam. Hadir sama, Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussin yang juga Timbalan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Kelantan. Selain Facebook yang baru dilancarkan itu, beliau turut mempunyai medium komunikasi maya lain seperti laman web UMNO Jeli, www.umnojeli.net dan laman komuniti Jeli, Kelantan, www.jeli.my yang juga boleh diakses secara talian oleh orang ramai. Mustapa melihat penggunaan media sosial...

 

YB Dato’ Jacob Dungau Sagan, Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri telah mempengerusikan satu sesi dialog bersama usahawan bumiputera Sarawak bertempat di Dewan Kenyalang, MPC Sarawak. Majlis ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan pandangan dan maklumbalas mengenai idea-idea innovatif dan kreatif yang boleh menyumbang kepada aktiviti ekonomi masyarakat Bumiputera. Hasil daripada sesi dialog ini akan dibentangkan ke Majlis Penasihat Ekonomi Negara (MAPEN) yang kini sedang menggubal pelan pembangunan ekonomi dikenali sebagai ‘New Economic Model For Advanced Economy’.Dialog sebegini akan membolehkan Kerajaan, khususnya MITI, mendapatkan maklumbalas secara langsung, terus dan tepat tentang segala masalah dan isu-isu semasa yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat usahawan Bumiputera di Sarawak. Ini menunjukkan kesungguhan, keprihatinan dan komitmen kerajaan melalui MITI terhadap usaha-usaha membangunkan bumiputera dalam konteks pembangunan usahawan seterusnya mewujudkan...

 

 

YB Minister, Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed received a courtesy call from German Ambassador, H.E. Dr. Guenter Georg Gruber and Dr Ernst Roeder-Messell, Counsellor for Economic, Commercial and Environmental Affairs Germany at his office.

Majlis MINI Showcase Groom Big ini adalah bertujuan untuk memberi pendedahan kepada orang ramai dan usahawan mengenai program Groom Big yang dilaksanakan oleh MITI dalam menggalakkan pembangunan usahawan yang berkualiti dan berdaya saing dalam sektor pembuatan dan perkhidmatan di peringkat domestic dan global. Program ini yang bermula sejak 2005 bagi industri makanan dan minuman telah memberikan banyak manfaat kepada usahawan tempatan. Sehingga Februari 2010, sebanyak 1,500 permohonan telah diterima dari seluruh negara dan daripada jumlah itu, 819 syarikat telah diberikan khidmat perundingan yang melibatkan 1,093 projek. Bagi industri kosmetik dan herba, seramai 70 usahawan telah diberikan khidmat perundingan, manakala seramai 15 usahawan dibangunkan dalam industry seramik dan kaca.

Total trade for 2009, the bulk of which went to North east Asia and ASEAN reached the RM988.2billion mark. Exports were valued at RM 553.3 billion. Total investments approved for the year in the manufacturing sector came to RM32.6 billion. This exceeded the RM27.5 billion target set under the Third Industrial Master Plan. Foreign investments garnered RM22.1billion while domestic investment raked in the rest. Total trade in services for the most part of 2009 amounted to RM141.8 billion, with exports accounting for RM72.7 billion and imports RM69.1 billion. Total investments of RM208.3 billion were approved in the services sector from 2006 – 2009 with domestic investment this time comprising 88% and foreign investment 12%. View the  media release of YB Minister’s session with foreign Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Trade Counsellors.