Ministries, govt agencies involved in export promotion must reduce bureaucracy — PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Ministries and government agencies involved in various export promotion programmes in the overseas market should be prepared to give up or share responsibilities in order to reduce bureaucratic procedures.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said there was bound to be redundancies and overlaps as many ministries and agencies were involved in such activities.

“We need to work harder and smarter. The role of Matrade ( Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation) is to ensure that trade contributes to inclusive and sustainable growth through the exchanges of goods and services,” he said in his speech at Matrade’s 25th anniversary gala dinner here yesterday.

His speech was read by the International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking.

Dr Mahathir said Matrade and its stakeholders must be able to adapt to changes and operate in a fast- changing world economy and evolving megatrends, which included the emergence of disruptive technologies and other technological advances, new versions of free trade agreements, imposition of trade barriers in the name of environmental protection, urbanisation and climate change.

“We need to take cognisance that the real impacts and headwinds of the current crises have yet to fully unfold. What we are facing now could be only reverberations. Tougher times might be ahead of us,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said the country needed to be prepared and become resilient, as it would continue to encounter many other challenges in the years to come.

“As such, we need to strengthen our economic growth by enhancing productivity and increasing competitiveness of the industries. Industry 4.0 is upon us. We need to continuously improve and harness the ecosystems of business support to offer innovative, seamless and integrated solutions for our stakeholders,” he added. — Bernama