Matrade: Project reviews won’t affect M’sia-China trade

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) does not expect the review of several projects linked to China’s state-owned enterprises to affect the bilateral trade between both countries.

In fact, its Exports Promotion and Market Access Division Senior Director, Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz said he believed the relevant issues would be addressed accordingly by the government at the political level.

“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reiterated many times that China is a very important trading partner for Malaysia,” he told a press conference on MATRADE’s participation at the 15th China ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) 2018 here yesterday.

Scheduled to be held in Nanning, China from Sept 12-15, 2018, the 15th CAEXPO will see Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Dr Ong Kian Ming leading a 700-member delegation from 174 companies to the annual event.

MATRADE aims to hit the RM450 million sales target this time around as compared with RM405.50 million sales recorded last year.

Mohd Mustafa said China has been the largest trading partner for Malaysia over the past nine years, with bilateral trade between the two nations reaching RM149.18 billion from January to June 2018, up 7.1 per cent from RM139.32 billion in the same period last year.

Asked on consumer sentiment in the first 100 days under the new Pakatan Harapan-led government, Mohd Mustafa said: “Give them (the new government) the room to drive the country under the leadership of Dr Mahathir, as the latter used to run the country for over 20 years before.

“I believe he knows the direction and where to take Malaysia to where we are supposed to be.”