The Malaysian American Electronics Industry (MAEI) expects a turnaround in the global electrical and electronics (E&E) industry by 2010 with demand picking up for personal computers, disc storage systems and mobile phones as widely forecasted by major international research houses. Exports of US electronics manufacturers in Malaysia are to register 15-20% rise in the second quarter of 2009, and another 10% in the third quarter. The increase is driven by the stimulus packages implemented by governments worldwide, especially China. The expected increase in exports in the second quarter is also due to worldwide consolidation activities and inventory correction. Malaysia has also benefited from the global economic crisis as some companies gained from additional activities and increased use of shared services as a result of the consolidation of overseas companies and outsourcing strategies, such as in design and development (D&D), procurement, financial services, IT and human...

The National Green Technology Policy was announced by YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak Prime Minister of Malaysia on 24 July 2009 encompasing economic, environment and social policies. Among the goals of the National Green Technology Policy are to increase the production of local Green Technology products and the expansion of SMEs and SMIs businesses exports of Green Technology to the global market. Developed countries are now keen to engage with companies/organisations which are more environmentally responsible to its stakeholders. Malaysian industries are encouraged to adapt a green environment approach in their businesses, by moving towards low carbon technology. Potential benefits for businesses from adoption of the green policy include: • enhanced local industry’s competitiveness in the global market; and • increased ability to attract foreign investors and growth of exports through enhanced consumer confidence. Consumers have become increasingly conscious not...

A total of 360 manufacturing projects with investments amounting to RM15.9 billion were approved in the first six months of 2009. Foreign investments amounted to RM10.6 billion (66.7%) while domestic investments totaled RM5.2 billion (32.7%). Leading investment areas were chemical and chemical products (RM7.3 billion), basic metal products (RM1.9 billion), E&E products (RM1.8 billion), petroleum products (RM1.1 billion), and fabricated metal products (RM855.4 million). Collectively, these projects represent 82% of the value of total investment approved.

The Bangkok Declaration on Traditional Medicine issued following the conference on Traditional Medicine in ASEAN Countries held from 31 August to 2 September 2009 in Bangkok, calls for collaboration in the generation and sharing of evidence-based information in traditional medicine and traditional knowledge; requirements for safety, efficacy and quality of traditional medicine, and the integration of traditional medicine / complementary and alternative medicine into the health care system services, including the promotion of the use of tradition medicine in primary health care.

ASEAN-wide: 98.94 per cent of all products have been placed in the Inclusion List (IL) of the CEPT Scheme for AFTA. Of which 97.15 per cent are at 0-5 per cent. Average tariff in 2009 is 1.65 per cent (1.95 per cent in 2008). For ASEAN-6: 99.40 per cent of all their products are in the Inclusion List (IL), of which 99.71 per cent are at duty of 0-5 per cent. Average tariff is 0.79 per cent in 2008 (1.32 per cent in 2007). For CLMV: 98.31 per cent of all their products are in the IL, of which 93.15 per cent are at duty of 0-5 per cent. Average tariff is 3.00 per cent in 2009 (3.69 per cent in 2008).

• Pusat Pengumpulan dan Pemasaran Produk Usahawan (4PU) merupakan program yang dilaksanakan bagi membantu memasarkan produk keluaran usahawan Bumiputera di bawah satu bumbung. • Pusat ini yang juga dikenali sebagai Trading House mempunyai elemen pengumpulan, pemasaran dan juga value add services (di bawah Program Groom Big) iaitu peningkatan mutu pembungkusan, penjenamaan, kualiti produk serta membantu mendapatkan pelbagai sijil yang berkaitan seperti GMP, HALAL, HACCP dan lain-lain. • Produk yang telah pun ditingkatkan mutu dan kualitinya akan dipromosikan sehingga ke luar negara menerusi pameran perdagangan antarabangsa dengan kerjasama agensi Kerajaan lain termasuk usahawan pemasaran luar negara yang dilantik oleh Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI). • Bagi membantu memperluaskan pasaran produk-produk usahawan Bumiputera di luar negara, MITI telah menubuhkan Trading House di luar negara dengan melantik syarikat kepunyaan Bumiputera Malaysia yang...

A Trade and Investment Mission to West Asia/ North Africa (Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia) will be held on 4 – 11 October 2009. The mission aims to enhance trade and investment relations with the Middle East and North Africa countries, specifically, Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Malaysian exporters especially in the services sector and Malaysian companies who wish to collaborate in trade and investment with the host countries are encouraged to participate in the trade and investment mission.

Exports continued to expand in July 2009, increasing RM3.8 billion or 8.4% from June 2009. Imports increased by 14.2% to RM41.1 billion from the month before. Total trade increased month-on-month by RM8.9 billion or 11% from June 2009. Malaysia also recorded a trade surplus of RM7.8 billion making July 2009 the 141 consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997. Year-on-year comparison for the period January to July 2009 showed a marked contraction in total trade, exports and imports. In the first seven months, total trade fell by 23.9% from the corresponding period of 2008. Exports declined by 23.3% to RM299.4 billion while imports shrank 24.7% to RM232.3 billion. Five export destinations namely Singapore, China. USA, Japan, Thailand collectively contributed 51.7% of Malaysia’s total exports in July 2009. Singapore remained the top export market while China overtook both the USA and Japan to become Malaysia’s second largest export destination since March...