Ashraf AboArafe
Boosting the bilateral relations between Egypt and Malaysia as the leaders of Egypt and Malaysia always assured, a great Malaysian commercial delegation visits Egypt headed by Mr YB DATO’ SERI REEZAL MERICAN NAINA MERICAN, a prominent figure with extensive experience in politics and government administration.
The economical forum between the Egyptian and Malaysian companies was held in one of biggest Cairo hotels on the Nile.
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia, headed by Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican Chairman of MATRADE organized the Export Acceleration Mission (EAM) to Egypt on 12 May 2024.
The main objectives of this mission is to strengthen Malaysia’s trade and investment relations with Egypt and also to provide platform to promote Malaysian companies’ capability especially in development projects whilst at the same time strengthening Malaysia’s presence in the market; in line with the strategy set out to target for the key developments projects in the country.
The Honorable Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican emphasized that Egypt offers enormous opportunities for Malaysian companies to venture particularly in its comprehensive new mega projects such as Suez Canal Area Development projects and the new administrative city. Due to this, it was timely for Malaysian companies to have a mission to the country to revisit and explore the potential and opportunities Egypt has to offer.
The Chairman of MATRADE mentioned that historically speaking, Malaysia and Egypt have links that stretches a few hundred years, and critically this remains the case today too, as both our countries continue to flourish as leading trade hubs for our respective regions.
Malaysia’s top five (5) exports to Egypt in 2023 were:
- Palm Oil & Palm Oil Based Agriculture Products;
- Palm Oil-Based Manufactured Products;
- Machinery, Equipment & Parts;
- Processed Food ; and
- Chemicals & Chemical Products.
Malaysia’s top five (5) imports from Egypt in 2023 were:
- Petroleum Products;
- Other Agricultures;
- Chemicals & Chemical Products;
- Crude Fertilizer & Crude Minerals; and
- Manufacturers of Metal.
The four-day mission will feature a series of programmes, including briefing sessions, pre-arranged business meetings with potential partners as well as networking sessions with key organisations in Egypt, such as;
- The Egyptian Malaysia Business Council (EMBC);
- General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI);
- Federation of Egyptian Chamber of Commerce (FEDCOC);
- Federation of Egyptian Industry (FEI);
- Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD); and
- Malaysia Palm Oil Council (MPOC).
60 Egyptian businessmen were involved in more than 100 pre-arranged business meetings on 12 May as the Egyptian companies meet the 16 representatives from 11 Malaysian companies who are part of our trade mission.
The Malaysian companies who are part of this delegation have capabilities in sectors such as;
- Construction & Engineering Services;
- Building Materials;
- Renewable Energy;
- Oil and Gas; and
- Palm Oil Based Products
Representatives from Malaysia’s EXIM Bank were also present to support any potential trade that can arise from these engagements.
* About!
YB DATO’ SERI REEZAL MERICAN NAINA MERICAN, 51, is a prominent figure with extensive experience in politics and government administration.
His political career and government administration experience as early as 27 years old when he was appointed as Political Secretary to the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (2000-2003), and subsequently served as Political Secretary to YAB Tun Abdullah Badawi, who was then the Prime Minister and Finance Minister (2004-2009). With extensive experience in the Ministry of Finance, he was later appointed Chairman of Amanah Raya Berhad (2013-2015). His career reached new heights when he was entrusted to serve as Deputy Foreign Minister (2015-2018), where he played a crucial role in strengthening bilateral and multilateral diplomatic relationships, as well as political, economic and trade cooperation.
Thus, Egypt & Malaysia CLAP 👏 as bilateral economical relations witness a new era _ MATRADE
