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Intrade Exhibition To Leverage On FTAs Within The Region
KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The International Trade Malaysia 2010 (INTRADE Malaysia2010) exhibition will focus on providing an avenue for the business and tradingsectors, to leverage on the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) Malaysia and otherASEAN member countries have signed.
"With the increasing number of FTAs being signed bymember countries, the INTRADE 2010 will be a significant platform, to fullyrealise opportunities from the fast growing markets of the region," saidDeputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
Malaysiahas concluded bilateral FTAs with Japan, Pakistan and New Zealand and regionalAsean agreements with China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Speaking toreporters at a breakfast networking session in conjunction with the IntradeMalaysia 2010 soft launch here today, he said it was important that the eventshowcases what the FTAs have in store, for entrepreneurs and investors to gaininsights into global business prospects.
A specialprogramme, FTA@INTRADE has been drawn up in conjunction with the exhibition, asa stage for the trading community to gain insights on the FTAs, he explained.
"Wealso see that trade with those countries that have become our FTA partners, hasincreased exponentially," Mukriz highlighted.
He said asan example, the China-Asean Free Trade Area (CAFTA) which came into effect inJanuary this year, showed trade going up by 26.4 per cent.
Alsopresent at the networking session was the Chief Executive Officer of theMalaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Datuk NoharuddinNordin.
Accordingto Noharuddin, the Intrade 2010 is expected to equal, if not better, thesuccess achieved over the past three years by the event.
DuringINTRADE Malaysia 2009, the business meetings conducted between foreign buyersand Malaysian companies, resulted in total sales of RM4.65 billion.
Thethree-day event is being organised by MATRADE for the fourth consecutive yearwith the theme,"One World, One Marketplace".
It will beheld from Nov 9-11 at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC) here.
The INTRADEthis year, will showcase 15 sectors, ranging from electrical and electronics,auto parts, processed food, transport equipment to rubber, plastic andwood-based products.
Accordingto Noharuddin, close to 500 trade buyers from 50 countries are expected toattend the business meetings arranged by MATRADE.
The KualaLumpur International Trade Forum (KLITF) to be held in conjunction with theINTRADE Malaysia 2010, is expected to draw more than 1,000 participants.
INTRADE,since its inception, has been positioned as ASEAN's leading general trade fair.
It provideopportunities for companies, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) inthe region, to showcase and promote a wide range of products and services fromMalaysia.--BERNAMA
