TAIPING, May 8 (Bernama) — There is room for Malaysian tyre exports to grow, says International Trade and Industry Ministry Secretary-General, Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria. She said Malaysia’s export of tyre and tyre-related products increased 3.3 per cent to RM807.3 million in 2012, from previously. “In 2012, the total world exports of rubber products amounted to US$148.58 billion (RM 442.4 billion), for which tyres accounted for 62 per cent. “There is room for Malaysian exports to grow as our major destinations include China (30.1 per cent), the United States (19.8 per cent), Germany (4.4 per cent), Japan (3.8 per cent), Thailand (3.0 per cent), Brazil (2.7 per cent), the United Kingdom (2.6 per cent) and Australia (2.5 per cent). “Now that we have an indication of the size of the market, let us focus on technological advances and demand for greener products to grow exports,” she added. Sta Maria was speaking to reporters after officiating the factory...

SINGAPORE, June 3 (Bernama) — The next round of negotiations on the EU-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is expected to resume in the fourth quarter, says Ambassador & Head of Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia, Luc Vandebon. He said both sides are working to resume the process as soon as possible. “Recently an informal video conference was held between my colleagues in Brussels and the Ministry of International Trade & Industry where both sides reaffirmed their interest to further discuss and negotiate on the proposed FTA. “After such a long break, the EU and Malaysia need to compare notes and take stock on the various issues, to verify if we are in sight of each other. If this “stock taking” process goes well, as I think and hope, then we will be in a position to resume the negotiations, maybe in autumn,” he said in response to Bernama in an email interview. The Technical Working Groups of the negotiating teams met in Kuala Lumpur last...

KOBE: Malaysia wants to diversify its exports to Japan as currently, about half are made up of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the rest are wood and wood-based products and electrical and electronic products. International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government wants to reduce its dependency on LNG exports. “Malaysia has a lot to offer to Japan other than LNG. Under the 12 National Key Economic Areas, we can export more in services, palm oil, tourism, healthcare, financial services and agriculture,” he told delegates at a seminar on investment and business opportunities in Malaysia here on Monday. Mustapa is leading a 25-member trade mission to Japan and South Korea which ends today. He said Malaysia has a lot to offer to companies which plan to set up their regional headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. “Malaysia is cost-competitive and is well connected to the region with good infrastructure, talents, tax breaks and liberal...

TOKYO 3 Julai - Populariti Malaysia sebagai hab halal mula mendapat suntikan baharu berikutan minat syarikat-syarikat Jepun menggunakan syarikat dari negara ini (Malaysia) sebagai platform untuk mengeksport produk-produk halal ke negara-negara Islam. Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed berkata, kekuatan rangkaian Malaysia dengan negara-negara Islam khasnya dari Asia Barat merupakan faktor utama menyumbang kepada minat tersebut. ”Syarikat-syarikat Jepun mengeksport produk halal khasnya dalam bidang makanan halal, farmaseutikal dan kosmetik setelah mereka mendapatkan pengiktirafan sijil halal dari Malaysia,” katanya. Beliau berkata demikian semasa mengadakan pertemuan dengan pegawai-pegawai dari kementerian yang menyertai misi dagangan Malaysia ke Jepun yang berakhir hari ini, di sini. Mustapa menjelaskan, kebanyakan syarikat-syarikat Jepun itu menggunakan kandungan dan ramuan yang mendapat pengiktirafan daripada Malaysia di dalam...

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian exhibitors raked in RM63.66 million in sales and projects during the 4th Showcase Malaysia Cambodia in Phnom Penh last month. In a statement yesterday, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said the export sales were reported by the 30 participating companies, services providers, government agencies and organisations, in the three-day event, which attracted more than 20,000 visitors. Matrade pre-arranged 737 business meetings for Malaysian exhibitors with Cambodian importers, agents, distributors and partners during the event. “Sales were reported for household appliances and accessories, automotive batteries, LED lighting, frozen food, grease and lubricants. “Malaysian services providers also negotiated potential franchise businesses, 3D animation and rendering services and CCTV products,” the agency said. Other products which generated interest were furniture for hotels, soil lab equipment, packaging material, food...

KUALA LUMPUR: Exports are likely to improve slightly in August compa-red to July. A poll suggests exports will grow by an average 5.43 per cent year-on-year, imports by 10.5 per cent and trade balance coming in at an average RM5.14 billion. The International Trade and Industry Ministry will release the data today. Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Dr Chua Hak Bin said exports will remain healthy in August. “Tech and other machinery equipment exports are likely to continue to expand, in line with Asian peers South Korea and Taiwan.” Palm oil exports probably edged higher as data from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board showed higher volumes of shipments in August. Other commodity exports probably continued to contract, given the soft prices, he said. Citi commented that China’s imports from Malaysia slowed in August (from one per cent in July) while Japan’s imports plunged in the same month (from 10.3 per cent). It said Singapore’s imports from Malaysia likely...

KEMAMAN 17 Feb. - Malaysia tidak bergantung kepada pelabur luar semata-mata tetapi juga pelabur tempatan bagi mempertingkatkan nilai pelaburan dalam negara. Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed berkata, kerajaan memberi penekanan yang sama agar kedua-dua pelabur asing dan tempatan terus melabur di negara ini. Menurut beliau, nilai pelaburan negara akan dapat dipertingkatkan lagi apabila negara mampu mengekalkan momentum pertumbuhan tahun lepas dan dengan keadaan ekonomi yang kukuh. “Malaysia menerima pelaburan tertinggi dalam sejarah negara dengan mencatat kira-kira RM38.7 bilion sepanjang tahun lepas melalui keyakinan yang terus diperlihatkan oleh pelabur asing dan tempatan,” katanya. Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita ketika mengunjungi Kompleks Petronas di sini petang semalam dalam rangka Program Turun Padang ke Terengganu. Pada 13 Februari lalu, Mustapa mengumumkan kejayaan negara mencatat pelaburan langsung asing (FDI)...

KUCHING 4 Mac - Johor merupakan destinasi pilihan utama pelabur di negara ini apabila mencatatkan nilai pelaburan berjumlah RM14.4 bilion dalam sektor pembuatan mengatasi Selangor, Sarawak dan Pulau Pinang pada tahun lalu. Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Ir. Hamim Samuri berkata, Selangor berada di tangga kedua dengan hasil pelaburan sebanyak RM9.8 bilion, diikuti Sarawak (RM8.27 bilion) dan Pulau Pinang (RM3.9 bilion). Katanya, daripada keempat-empat negeri itu, Sarawak mencatat hasil pelaburan hampir mencecah dua kali ganda berbanding tahun sebelumnya iaitu sebanyak RM4.72 bilion. Menurutnya, jumlah itu menunjukkan pengusaha dan penggiat aktiviti perniagaan pelbagai peringkat di Sarawak mempunyai keyakinan dalam menarik pelabur asing dan domestik terhadap prestasi ekonomi negeri itu. “Saya juga percaya komitmen kerajaan negeri dalam mewujudkan suasana kondusif dan mesra pelabur ternyata berjaya menarik pelabur untuk menanam modal di Sarawak,”...

Eksport Malaysia meningkat 12.3 peratus kepada RM58.91 bilion pada Februari tahun ini berbanding bulan yang sama tahun lalu. Import pula meningkat 9.5 peratus kepada RM48.48 bilion, kata Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan pada Jumaat. MITI berkata, negara mencatat peningkatan lebihan dagangan sebanyak 27.2 peratus kepada RM10.44 bilion pada Februari. Pada bulan dikaji juga, jumlah perdagangan Malaysia meningkat 11 peratus kepada RM107.39 bilion berbanding bulan yang sama tahun lalu, didorong pertumbuhan lebih tinggi dalam eksport berbanding import. Perdagangan yang tinggi dicatatkan dengan Singapura meningkat RM2.28 bilion, China (RM1.73 bilion), Jepun (RM1.2 bilion), Arab Saudi (RM919.1 juta), Taiwan (RM793.8 juta), Jerman (RM760.6 juta), Emiriyah Arab Bersatu (RM742.5 juta) dan Amerika Syarikat (RM726.7 juta). Negara ASEAN Eksport ke negara ASEAN meningkat 5.7 peratus kepada RM15.97 bilion, menyumbang 27.1 peratus...

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) — The services sector will contribute 60 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020, making it a major contributor to Malaysia’s economy, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. Currently, the services sector accounts for 55 per cent of the country’s GDP. “We have less than six years to achieve this. We need to do something radical to invigorate the services sector. It has done well, growing faster than other sectors but that is not enough,” he told reporters after Malaysia Services Development Council 1/2014 meeting here Thursday. Also present at the meeting were Pemandu (Performance Management & Delivery Unit) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala and representatives from the various ministries, agencies and services industries association. Mustapa said the council was briefed, among others, on the progress of the services sector liberalisation initiative at the Asean level as well...