KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- European countries along with Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India and China, are among the focus countries for the export of services by Malaysia this year. Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Trade and Promotion, Dr Wong Lai Sum said there are tremendous opportunities for Malaysians to export services to these places.

"This is especially in the area of outsourcing, professional and construction related services.

"In China, there is demand for water and waterwaste treatment, information and communication technology as well as engineering services," she told reporters after the opening of the Matrade-Austrade Seminar on Exporting Services here Wednesday.

Wong said Matrade has lined-up a few missions for Malaysian companies seeking business opportunities in the countries mentioned.

"Fifty per cent of our missions this year is based on the services sector.

"This shows how serious we are towards the industry, which is expected to contribute 60 per cent to the nation's gross domestic product by 2020," Wong said.

She also disclosed that this target was set under the Third Industrial Master Plan.

According to Wong, Malaysia's export of services last year surpassed imports, thanks to the government efforts in assisting local companies go beyond the nation's borders.

From January-September 2009, the total export of services recorded a value of RM72.71 billion, while imports were at RM69.06 million.

Malaysia's trade in services during the first three quarters of last year recorded a surplus of RM3.65 billion.

Travel services was the major contributor to the sector with exports for the first three quarters of 2009, growing by 4.5 per cent to RM39.5 billion.

Other services which contributed to exports, included, construction, communications, insurance, financial and ICT services.

-- BERNAMA