KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) — Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can become multi-national companies (MNCs) in the future if they implement the right strategies to brand their products and services, according to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade). “With good and proper branding, SMEs can penetrate the market and compete with large players in the industry,” Matrade senior director exporters development division Datuk Dzukifli Mahmud said at the soft launch today of the Brand Entrepreneurs Conference 2013 to be held here on Aug 29. The event is a collaboration between Matrade and the Branding Association of Malaysia. Its president Datuk Eric Chong said: “There event will also include a trade-matching session where local companies can build tangible business relationships after the event.” Besides local participants, there will also be participants from Asean, the Middle East, New Zealand and Africa. Speakers will include Eversendai Corp...

SINGAPURA 10 Julai - Pelaburan bersama antara syarikat-syarikat akan meningkatkan lagi penyepaduan ekonomi dalam ASEAN, kata Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (gambar). Dalam konteks mencapai Komuniti Ekonomi ASEAN, kata beliau, sudah ada banyak kemajuan yang dilihat, termasuk dalam perdagangan, piawaian, pengangkutan dan saling hubung. “Dalam pelaburan, ia tidak begitu jelas, tidak terlalu ketara tetapi memang ada banyak pelaburan, bukan hanya Malaysia dan Singapura; kita perlu lakukan lebih lagi (dengan negara-negara lain) termasuk Indonesia, Thailand dan Vietnam,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menemui enam syarikat yang melabur dalam Iskandar Malaysia. Sebelum itu, Mustapa, yang berada di sini untuk meneruskan perbincangan dengan komuniti perniagaan Singapura, juga mengadakan pertemuan waktu makan tengah hari dengan Dewan Perniagaan dan Industri Cina Singapura semalam. Menteri itu menegaskan bahawa sudah ada beberapa usaha sama...

PETALING JAYA (July 11, 2013): The Malaysian ceramic industry has come out in support of the government’s initiatives to spur the growth of exports through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement, despite the dissatisfaction expressed by some quarters of the business community on the TPP talks. The FMM Malaysian Ceramic Industry Group (MCIG) chaired by Raja Datuk Abd Aziz Raja Muda Musa, who is also Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) vice-president, views Malaysia’s participation in the TPP as positive. FMM MCIG said in a statement yesterday that the ratification of the TPP would be particularly beneficial should it give wider access into the US market, adopt rules of origin (ROO) to minimise abuse and facilitate and expedite dialogue on standards conformance between partners. “The FMM MCIG would therefore urge the government to pursue the above items diligently during its negotiations on the TPP agreement,” it said. Malaysian exports of...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) — The Trans- Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which involves 12 countries, will not be signed in October as what was intially expected as there are many areas which have not been agreed on. Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) secretary-general, Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, said the TPP negotiations were talks among equals and even if one party did not agree, there was no conclusion to the agreement. “The most important thing is that we will not compromise Malaysia’s sovereignty and that we will stick to our policy. “We use negotiating skills to exclude areas that impact on sovereignty,” she said at the Young Entrepreneur Organisation of Malaysia forum and dialogue on the TPP here Monday. In October 2010, Malaysia joined as a party to the TPP negotiations. Sta Maria said Malaysia chose to participate in the TPP negotiations at an early date so as to understand what was going on in the process of the...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) — Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), an agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dassault Systemes to collaborate in harnessing the industry’s collective intelligence. Through the MoU, Dassault Systemes — a 3D design software, 3D digital mock up and product lifecycle management solutions company, launched an automotive apps via MAI Social Networking Platform to enhance productivity and user-experience for industry professionals based on the 3DExperience platform. MAI Chief Executive Officer Madani Sahari said the collaborative social innovation platform would serve as a medium for professionals to discuss and gain information on the latest updates in the automotive industry. “As the focal point for the automotive industry in Malaysia, we plan to establish a dedicated centre of excellence to encourage learning, research and development and the adoption of...

KUALA LUMPUR 15 Julai - Hubungan dagangan Malaysia dan China kini ditingkatkan menerusi Taman Perindustrian Kuantan Malaysia-China (MCKIP) dan Taman Perindustrian China-Malaysia Qinzhou (QIP) di Guangxi, China.

Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed berkata, perkembangan kedua-dua projek tersebut berkembang baik dan menggalakkan kerjasama pelaburan yang saling memberi manfaat.

Katanya, kerjasama itu akan meningkatkan hubungan dua hala dengan rakan dagangan terbesar Malaysia sejak 2009.

“Pelaburan tersebut berada di landasan yang betul dan hubungan akan terus kukuh dengan projek pelaburan ini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika berucap semasa majlis menandatangani kontrak kerjasama QIP dan perjanjian pemegang saham MCKIP di sini hari ini.

Yang turut hadir ialah Gabenor Autonomi Wilayah Guangxi Zhuang, Chen Wu dan Pengerusi SP Setia Bhd., Tun Zaki Tun Azmi.

Taman QIP merupakan kawasan strategik memandangkan ia terletak dekat dengan...

PETALING JAYA, July 18 (Bernama) — Malaysia is confident the Asean Economic Community (AEC) will be realised by 2015 as 80 per cent of the measures have already been implemented by member nations. International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said in the case of Malaysia, 88 per cent of the measures have been implemented. Speaking to reporters after launching the 10th Asean Leadership Forum, Mustapa said Malaysian entrepreneurs were getting ready, especially in capacity- building measures to enhance their resilience. He said capacity building was important as it was easier for bigger companies to adapt but some small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are feeling the pressure. Earlier in his speech, Mustapa said Malaysian companies have been benefiting from closer Asean economic integration by expanding their operations to other Asean countries. “Companies such as Maybank, AirAsia, CIMB, Sime Darby, Petronas and Ingress Auto Ventures are some examples of...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Bernama) — The government will impose a provisional anti-dumping duties ranging from Nil to 25 per cent on electrolytic tinplates imported from China and South Korea. The International Trade and Industry Ministry said the duties are effective not more than 120 days from July 20 and the final determination will be made no later than 120 days from July 20. “The government has decided to impose a provisional measure, which shall take the form of a provisional anti-dumping duty, guaranteed by a security equal to the amount of the dumping margin determined through the preliminary investigation,” the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said the government has completed preliminary investigations on the importations of tinplates as provided under Section 23 of the Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties Act 1993. “There is sufficient evidence to continue with further investigations on the importations of tinplates from the alleged countries,” the...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 (Bernama) — The International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) will host an open day on Aug 1 to mark the ongoing 18th Round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Kota Kinabalu. Malaysia’s participation in the talks have received various reactions from the people including political parties, non-governmental organisations, industry and business chambers representatives, the ministry said. “Eventhough the ministry has held many meetings with various interest groups, it acknowledges that there are still many TPP-related matters that need to be explained to the people,” MITI said in a statement.

MUAR (July 21): The government will not trade off Malaysia’s dignity and lead it to bankruptcy in regard to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations held in Kota Kinabalu last week.International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri in assuring this, said the government would not ink any agreement without considering the views of all concerned parties and safeguarding the people’s rights.“This is evident from the nation’s earnings of around RM200 billion annually from international trade,” he said at a zakat (tithe) presentation to 120 orphans and breaking of fast under the SME Bank social corporate responsibility programme at the Pekan Bukit Gambir Mosque, here, last night.He further assured that the people had no cause to be anxious about the TPPA negotiations as they had not been finalised.“As a developing country that depends on international trade, Malaysia cannot isolate itself but must participate in such negotiations,” he...