MATRADE aims to bring 150 companies to CAEXPO 2023, eyes RM500 mln sales

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is targeting to bring about 150 companies to the China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO), which will be held in Guangxi, China, and is eyeing RM500 million in sales from the event.

Deputy chief executive officer Sharimahton Mat Saleh said the upcoming CAEXPO 2023, which is the 20th edition, has built its reputation over the years and has been a very popular trade event among Malaysian exporters.

“For the past three years, CAEXPO was organised in a hybrid mode whereby only companies that had representatives in China are allowed to participate in the physical expo. But as the Chinese economy reopened this year, companies which had no representatives in China could also participate as well.

“CAEXPO 2023 will be the first physical flagship event in China, coordinated by MATRADE since the border opening on 8th January, 2023. Thus, we are eyeing for about 150 companies to join us this year,” she told reporters after the opening promotion conference for CAEXPO, themed “Your Preferred Entryway To China Market” here on 17th March.

Sharimahton shared that the Malaysia Pavilion in CAEXPO 2023 will not only feature the food and beverages, but also high potential sectors such as health and wellness, lifestyle, as well as services such as education, tourism, medical tourism and logistics.

MATRADE is also coordinating a series of activities including seminars, business matching sessions, live streaming sessions with key opinion leaders (KOLs), art and cultural performances and others during the event, she said.

On the sales target, she said although the highest sales recorded at CAEXPO was about RM700 million, the target set for this year is reasonable considering that many Malaysian exporters are still recovering from the pandemic.

Meanwhile,  Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong said in his opening remarks that China has remained Malaysia's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years.

“I believe the close trade and economic ties between China and Malaysia will continue to deepen by the flows of goods, services, people and ideas.

“CAEXPO provides a platform for Malaysian companies to explore the vast trade potential in the China market,” he noted.

He said Malaysia’s physical present post-Covid-19 is important to evaluate the market, to see the changing trend, tastes and preferences of Chinese consumers, particularly the middle class.

“China has at least 400 million people categorised as middle class and they are the great powerhouse of Chinese consumers and a major export market globally.

“Participating in exhibitions such as CAEXPO would allow Malaysians to understand this export market better,” he said.

Secretary-general of the CAEXPO secretariat, Wei Zhao Hui, shared that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Asean strategic partnership and CAEXPO, the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership.

“This year also sees the full promotion of negotiations on version 3.0 of the China-Asean Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

“In this connection, the 20th CAEXPO to be held on 16th to 19th September will be of special and great significance,” she added.