NAJIB: GOOD TIES

Trade reached record RM430.5b in first quarter of 2017, says PM

NOR AIN MOHAMED RADHI KUALA LUMPUR ainradhi@nst.com.my

MALAYSIA’S encouraging trade performance in the first quarter of the year was not instantaneous, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said the achievement was a result of hard work and the government’s good relations with other countries.

In his blog, najibrazak.com, yesterday, Najib said the country had created history when it recorded 24.3 per cent increase in the trade sector, an increase to RM430.5 billion compared with the same period last year.

“In March alone, the country’s export has reached RM82.63 billion, the highest monthly figure for Malaysian exports ever achieved.”

Citing good relationship with China, Najib said Malaysia enjoyed many benefits from it.

“Now, our country is allowed to export raw bird’s nests to China following my visit last year. It has benefited around 10,000 farmers who are involved in this industry, thus providing them with additional income.

“At my request, China has also increased its palm oil purchase and we have recorded a 53.6 per cent increase over the last six months of last year.

“The government also has opened the doors for Malaysian companies to cooperate with companies from China through various memorandum of understanding (MoU), with values of more than RM175 billion, signed during my visit last year and this year.

“Likewise, our relationship with India; today many Malaysian companies are actively bidding for development projects in the country, particularly after six MoUs signed between the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and industry