Matrade, MREPC team up to promote Malaysia’s rubber gloves
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) have joined forces to promote rubber gloves and other medical devices to foreign buyers.
They are co-organising Matrade’ s business matching programme – International Sourcing Programme – in conjunction with the ongoing International Rubber Glove Conference and Exhibition (IRGCE) 2018 here.
This marked the first time the two parties were collaborating to bring foreign buyers to meet Malaysian manufacturers, Matrade said in a statement yesterday.
“Both Matrade and MREPC, through their offices abroad, have identified 33 foreign buyers from 11 countries who have expressed interest in sourcing Malaysianmade rubber gloves and other rubber medical devices. This presents a good opportunity for both parties to introduce foreign buyers to other Malaysian medical devices as well as rubber-based products,” the trade promotion agency noted.
Matrade chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen said the International Sourcing Programme in IRGCE 2018 was expected to have a positive impact on both the buyers and the local manufacturers.
“Though many see the glove industry as an established sector, pockets of opportunities continue to exist around the world, particularly in emerging markets such as India, China, Brazil, Turkey and Russia.
“As Malaysia’s trade promotion agency, we find business matching initiatives such as the International Sourcing Programme as an effective platform for Malaysian exporters to meet high-quality buyers from around the world without having to travel overseas,” he added.
Matrade and MREPC would also explore other mutually beneficial opportunities for further collaboration over the next several months, the statement said.
Meanwhile, medical glove exports grew six per cent to RM8.48 billion during the first six months of this year from RM7.95 billion in the corresponding period last year.
MREPC CEO Low Yoke Kiew said Malaysia’s exports of rubber gloves hit an all- time high of RM10.24 billion last year, up 51.7 per cent from the previous year, as the industry benefited from the synchronised recovery in global growth and demand.
Given the strong export performance in 2017, she said Malaysia was expected to continue to dominate the world market for rubber gloves, especially medical gloves for use in the healthcare sector.
“The industry is confident to achieve the target of securing at least 65 per cent of global exports of rubber gloves by 2020. MREPC will continue to undertake marketing efforts to increase awareness on glove use and to promote highquality gloves from Malaysia to further drive the growth of the rubber glove industry,” she added.