MATRADE UNVEILS STRATEGIC MITIGATION PLAN TO DEFEND MALAYSIA’S TRADE MOMENTUM AMID GLOBAL VOLATILITY

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) today announced a comprehensive Strategic Mitigation Plan titled "Resilience through Intelligence" to shield Malaysian exporters from the impacts of escalating global trade friction and geopolitical uncertainty.

The announcement comes as Malaysia records a steady growth of first-quarter trade performance, with exports climbing 12.7% to RM426.53 billion and a trade surplus of RM63.22 billion, marking a 54% surge compared to the same period of last year. Despite this growth, MATRADE’s internal monitoring and industry data indicate that 90.5% of manufacturers are currently affected by global disruptions, specifically through rising logistics costs and raw material shortages and MATRADE anticipates the adverse effects can only be felt from second quarter onwards.

Chairman of MATRADE, YB Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican stated, "Our goal is to move the national conversation from simply acknowledging 'crisis impact' to a stance of 'proactive facilitation'. Through intelligence, digital innovation and targeted government support, we will ensure Malaysian exporters remain shielded from global shocks and continue to defend our nation's trade momentum to minimise the impact of the disruptions."

"We are intensifying our monitoring by leveraging our 47 overseas offices as 'Frontline Intelligence Hubs' to provide exporters with real-time data on port connectivity and tactical routing. By evolving the role of our Trade Commissioners (TCs) to identify the supply gaps arising from geopolitical tension and sourcing of alternative materials, we are keeping Malaysian industries running even when traditional supply lines are under strain", he added.

A core pillar of the Mitigation Plan is the transformation of MATRADE’s global network to monitor and facilitate trade flows daily. MATRADE overseas offices are actively facilitating tactical rerouting solutions and market access complexities for exporters, such as diverting cargo to stable regional hubs and ports like Sohar and Salalah, as well as exploring alternative land or railway routes to bypass maritime chokepoints.

To provide 24/7 support for exporters, MATRADE officially launched the MATRADE Interactive Virtual Assistant (MIVA) on the Madani Digital Trade Platform (MDTP). This AI-driven tool provides instant, real-time assistance for crisis-related queries, ensuring that SMEs have a digital shield to navigate trade challenges at any hour.

MATRADE’s Internal Taskforce continues to meet weekly to refine these strategies, ensuring all global offices are aligned with ministerial directives to provide a unified national response. In addition, MATRADE has also formed the Trade Resilience Taskforce – Middle East Conflict, comprising members from the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (NCCIM), Malaysian Consortium of Mid-Tier Companies (MCMTC) and logistic service providers to discuss industry responses and strategic recommendations in addressing the impacts on exports arising from the conflict.

About MATRADE
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) was established on 1 March 1993 as the national trade promotional arm under Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI). MATRADE's primary role is to assist Malaysian exporters in developing and expanding their export markets. Aligned with Malaysia's commercial diplomacy efforts, MATRADE is the nation's trade facilitator and champion of Malaysian-made products and services on the global stage.

SOURCE: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Mdm. Aninawati Saleh
Head of Corporate Communication
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)
Tel (Direct) : 03 – 6207 7077 (7826)
Email : communication@matrade.gov.my

--BERNAMA