by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 6: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan urged small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to take advantage of government initiatives such as the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) to expand their export markets.
He highlighted that Sarawak’s trade with China has already reached RM27.3 billion in 2024, led by exports of petroleum products, palm oil, and chemical products.
Awang Tengah, who is also Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, was attending the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai today, where Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi launched the Malaysian Pavilion in conjunction with MIHAS Shanghai 2025.
Five Sarawakian companies are participating in the exhibition, namely SPL Food Industries Sdn Bhd (gula apong products), Iana Corporation Sdn Bhd (kek lapis), Joyees Trading Sdn Bhd (pepper products), Nationfood Sdn Bhd (tempe chips) and PPES Ternak Sdn Bhd (corned beef). Their products have attracted the interests of many Chinese buyers.
The MIHAS Shanghai or Malaysia’s Pavilion, at this year’s CIIE, marks Malaysia’s largest participation to date, with over 200,000 square metres of exhibition space and 250 participating companies.
Last year, Malaysia-China celebrated 50 years of friendship, marked by a record-breaking USD106.06 billion in bilateral trade and 16-year streak that makes China Malaysia’s largest trading partner.
Awang Tengah was accompanied by Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, advisor (SME) to MINTRED Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais, PERMANENT SECRETARY to MINTRED Dzulkornain Masron, and Invest Sarawak chief executive officer Timothy Ong, along with other senior government officials. – DayakDaily
