MATRADE Welcomes Budget 2027, RM60 Mln Allocation To Strengthen MSME Exports
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The RM60 million allocation made by the government under Budget 2027 to the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) can help to build the capability of local companies to penetrate and diversify into export markets.
The national trade promotion agency said in a statement today that the budget comes at a time when exporters continue to navigate geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs and supply chain disruptions.
“MATRADE views the allocation as a timely and strategic investment to strengthen the resilience of Malaysian exporters, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“The allocation, under the Export Resilience and Market Diversification Fund, is expected to benefit more than 3,500 companies, including 60 bumiputera companies in the country,” it said.
MATRADE, through 200 export development and export promotion activities in 2027, has targeted RM12 billion in export sales and as of September 2026, 10,300 MSMEs were registered with MATRADE.
Its chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the RM60 million allocation would continue to strengthen confidence in the agency to steer the national export agenda.
“Malaysia’s double-digit export growth for the first eight months of this year reflects its resilience amidst geopolitical uncertainties and global supply chain disruptions. Congratulations also to the management of MATRADE for their hard work that has contributed to this positive national trade performance.
“However, our strategic focus now is to increase the MSME participation ratio in Malaysia’s export market. We must elevate MSMEs as the backbone and main driver of the nation’s economy, as their every success on the global stage will bring a direct spillover effect to the economic prosperity of the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, MATRADE chief executive officer Datuk Indera Abu Bakar Yusof thanked the government on behalf of MATRADE for this allocation and the trust given to the agency to continue driving the MSME export agenda.
“We bear this trust with full responsibility and will ensure every ringgit delivers tangible results for Malaysian exporters, especially MSMEs, through collaboration with partners and stakeholders in the export ecosystem,” he added.
MATRADE also said it will continue to implement export strategies, including market diversification, halal, services and digitalisation through the MADANI Digital Trade Platform (MDTP) and continue to support MSME export development through the MATRADE Academy and the National Trade Blueprint.
It also reckoned that the extension of tax incentives for international trade exhibitions until the Year of Assessment 2030 is also expected to encourage more MSMEs to participate in international trade promotion activities.
-- BERNAMA