The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Dagang NeXchange Berhad (DNeX) have formalised a strategic collaboration to strengthen trade facilitation and accelerate the adoption of digital trade solutions among Malaysian businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on 8 September 2026, with the aim of strengthening Malaysia’s digital trade ecosystem and supporting businesses in navigating international trade more efficiently.
At the centre of the collaboration is the MADANI Digital Trade Platform (MDTP), an initiative established by MATRADE that is intended to serve as a key national digital export hub.
The platform brings together digital trade solutions and trade facilitation services for the exporter community, with the collaboration set to make these services more accessible to SMEs by bringing key export and customs processes together through a single digital platform.
Integrating Export and Customs Processes
Through the integration of customs declaration services into MDTP, Malaysian SMEs and exporters will have access to more seamless digital trade facilitation services through a single platform.
The MoC will leverage the respective capabilities of MDTP and DNeX TradeHub, DNeX’s digital trade facilitation platform.
By integrating and utilising the two platforms, the collaboration aims to improve access to digital trade services, simplify trade processes and help Malaysian businesses navigate the requirements of international trade more efficiently.
The partnership also reflects the growing importance of digitalisation in supporting businesses as they participate in increasingly complex regional and global markets.
Supporting MSMEs in Export Growth
Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE, said the collaboration represents a long-term strategic initiative to address the evolving needs and challenges faced by businesses navigating the increasingly complex global trade environment.
“By providing seamless digital trade facilitation services, the initiative is expected to enhance convenience and efficiency for the exporter community in undertaking trade activities, including cross-border e-commerce, while supporting businesses in adapting to the growing digitalisation of international trade.”
Dato’ Indera Abu Bakar Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE, said the strategic partnership would further support the agency’s efforts to sustain export growth, particularly among local homegrown exporters and MSMEs.
“MATRADE strives to facilitate and uplift export growth by MSMEs targeted between 6 to 7 percent as aspired under the 13th Malaysia Plan and to be able to achieve this the current initiatives under whole of government approach and the strategic partnership with industry stakeholders will be being intensified,” he said.
DNeX TradeHub to Strengthen the Digital Trade Ecosystem
As the trade facilitation partner, DNeX will provide access to its DNeX TradeHub platform, together with the technical support and expertise required to integrate it with MDTP.
DNeX will also enable SMEs and exporters to onboard and utilise the platform, while working closely with MATRADE to support the implementation and adoption of digital trade solutions among participating businesses.
DNeX TradeHub is designed as a digital trade facilitation platform connecting businesses, government agencies and trade ecosystem partners through a single digital gateway.
The platform serves as a central aggregation point for Malaysia’s digital trade ecosystem, connecting customs declaration, logistics, trade financing and other value-added services within a unified environment.
This is expected to create new opportunities for logistics, financing and technology partners while reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a regional digital trade hub.
Reducing Friction for SMEs
Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, Chairman of DNeX, said stronger connectivity across Malaysia’s trade infrastructure would be increasingly important to the country’s competitiveness in global trade.
“Malaysia’s competitiveness in global trade will increasingly depend on how well our trade infrastructure is connected. Our collaboration with MDTP strengthens this ecosystem by simplifying access to trade services, reducing friction and enabling Malaysian businesses to participate more efficiently and competitively in regional and global markets,” he said.
Shiraz Ramli, Chief Executive Officer of DNeX IT, said the partnership would help address some of the practical challenges SMEs face when exporting.
“For most SMEs, the hardest part of exporting is not the ambition – it is the number of systems, logins and forms that sit between a confirmed order and a shipment that clears,” he said.
He added that, by leveraging DNeX’s experience in managing national trade infrastructure, TradeHub would evolve from a transaction processor into a more comprehensive digital marketplace.
“We plan to scale this ecosystem progressively across MATRADE’s entire network,” he said.
Strengthening Malaysia’s Export Ecosystem
The collaboration reflects MATRADE and DNeX’s shared commitment to advancing the digitalisation of Malaysia’s trade ecosystem and improving access to trade facilitation services for Malaysian businesses.
By combining MATRADE’s strategic role and extensive exporter network with DNeX’s digital trade facilitation capabilities and technical expertise, the collaboration is expected to create greater opportunities for businesses to use digital solutions throughout their export journey.
The MoC also aligns with MATRADE’s 2026 roadmap and the 13th Malaysia Plan, supporting efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s export ecosystem, enhance the economic mobility and competitiveness of MSMEs through international trade, and increase their contribution to the nation’s overall export performance.
The strategic collaboration underscores MATRADE’s continued commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s trade ecosystem through digitalisation and innovation, while supporting Malaysian businesses in becoming more competitive, connected and export-ready in the evolving global trading environment.
