Matrade achieves RM139 million in potential sales at DSA 2018

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has achieved RM193 million in potential sales from business-matching sessions facilitated during the Defence Services Asia 2018 (DSA 2018), exceeding its initial target of RM25 million.

Deputy chief executive officer Datuk Wan Latiff Wan Musa said Matrade organised about 100 business-matching meetings under its International Sourcing Programme (INSP) during the event.

“This year we have 28 buyers from nine countries, which include South Korea, Myanmar, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh and China, focusing on high-value sectors such as vessel sales, maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, and defence equipment, comprising surveillance products,” he told reporters at the INSP concluding session yesterday.

He attributed the contributing factors to the astounding sales figures to the size of DSA 2018, which was much bigger this year than the previous years, and better defence product presentation, which was conducted at the newly-completed Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).

Describing the DSA 2018 as well received, he said: “The profile of Malaysia as a country and Malaysian companies in the defence sector at large has risen quite substantively as the country has been recognised of being capable of providing defence products and services,” he said.

Matrade’s involvement in the DSA 2018 includes assisting companies, mostly small and medium enterprises, in developing their own capabilities, as well as marketing and sourcing products overseas.

The DSA 2018, the 16th in the series, is held at MITEC from April 16 to 19, gathered defence-related experts and stakeholders from around the world. — Bernama