By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 28: Sarawak’s trade has increased by 51 per cent year-on-year to RM166.15 billion in 2022 as compared to RM109.89 billion in 2021.
Over the same period, Sarawak’s exports grew 53 per cent to RM131.76 billion last year as compared to RM86.32 billion in the previous year.
Meanwhile, overall trade in Malaysia was recorded to have increased by nearly 28 per cent to RM2.85 trillion with export value of RM1.552 trillion.
In revealing this, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) deputy chief executive officer of Exporters Development, Abu Bakar Yusof, said the evident data highlighted the potential of exports in contributing to Sarawak’s local economy.
Thus, he urged Sarawak micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to learn how to grow and start their export journey by getting the guidance and assistance from Matrade through its benchmarking programme.
With the theme “Global Supply Chain and Sustainability”, the Matrade Benchmarking Programme allows mid-tier companies (MTCs) to share their experiences and vast knowledge with MSMEs on how to internationalise their businesses, equipping them with essential elements of global competitiveness as well as adopting best practices.
The programme also paves closer working relationships between MSMEs and MTCs in fostering strong networking and subsequently opening up opportunities for MSMEs to be part of the MTCs’ export supply chain.
“However, we don’t want you to be only the part of supply chain of MTCs but also to export directly to the global market.
“But of course, you need to be well prepared to go international directly. This is where the support from MTCs, Matrade, Sarawak government and industry associations are very crucial to realise the aspiration of more MSMEs to export and uplift themselves to become MTCs and later, large corporations,” he said during Matrade’s benchmarking programme held at Imperial Hotel here today.
Among the panellists featured at the programme were representatives from two prominent MTCs in Sarawak, namely Kim Hin Industry Berhad and East Asia Palm Products Sdn Bhd, as well as an expert from Deloitte Consulting Malaysia, Samrat Bose who is also the programme director of Matrade’s Mid-Tier Companies Development Programme (MTCDP).
The panellists spoke about their export journey, valuable insights and experience, as well as their efforts in adopting sustainability and being important players in the global supply chain.
Abu Bakar also revealed that Matrade used to have about over 600 members from Sarawak but today, the corporation only has about 254 members which led to him calling for more participation from Sarawak’s MSMEs. Registration is free-of-charge. — DayakDaily
