Trade activities for 2011 have been slower compared to the previous year due to a slowdown in Western markets.

NONE According to Matrade deputy chief executive Zakaria Kamarudin ( right ), shortfall in demand from these markets have taken its toll on export figures.

“This year we see a drop in electric and electronics export leading to a reduction of export figures,” he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

However, Zakaria said trade is still “positive”, with the 2011 total trade volume expected to go “beyond RM1 trillion”.

Last year, Malaysia’s trade volume was RM1.2 trillion.

As of October 2011, trade this year has reached RM1.05 trillion.

Zakaria said while official figures for November will only be available in the next few weeks, trade for the final two month of 2011 is “looking strong”.

He added that while Matrade does not have a target for trade in 2012, it is hoping to maintain 2011 growth figures of about 8 percent year on year per month.

“We have no targets as we will be affected by the drop in demand in United States and Europe... where the situation is not stable.

“So our focus is on dynamic markets like Asean, the Middle East, China and India to maintain growth,” he said.

Bumiputera and women exporters

Zakaria spoke before the graduating ceremony for 19 companies which went through the three-year bumiputera and women entrepreneur development programmes.

The women entrepreneurs, including Reka Nutritions, managed to double their export volume from RM2.4 million in 2008 to RM4.6 million in 2011.

The bumiputera entrepreneurs, including Hang Tuah Coffee, raised their export volume by four times from RM2.2 million to RM7.9 million by the end of the programme.

The companies participated in 106 activities and trade fairs in nine countries, and were selected from the high achievers in small-medium enterprise programmes from SME Corp and Mara.

“We aim to have 200 more new exporters by 2015 with this programme, and we are hoping the government will approve our application of RM30 million per annum,” he said.

The programmes, which began in 2003, have produced 170 exporters, and cost RM5 million a year.