Prime Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob has launched the National Trade Blueprint or NTBp, a blueprint to increase Malaysia’s trade competitiveness through the improved business ecosystem.
Ismail said that the Blueprint outlines a 5-year (2021-2025) development strategy and initiatives to enhance Malaysia’s trade competitiveness, specifically in the exports of merchandise. The Blueprint aims to position Malaysia as a dynamic and pre-eminent trading nation through sustainable export development.
It provides opportunities to augment Malaysia’s institutional frameworks to lift the export economy onto a growth trajectory. To achieve this, NTBp complements other current policies and master plans by converging objectives, reconciling initiatives, and bringing together the various stakeholders in the value chain towards the central goal of an export framework.
It aims to attune to the current trade landscape in the light of the rapidly evolving global trends while addressing the business community’s needs.
The Blueprint’s framework is guided by 4 strategic priorities, 3 strategic themes and 8 strategic thrusts with 40 recommendations to improve and enhance Malaysia’s trade competitiveness.
Among the specific areas under the ecosystem covered by the NTBp are Trade Facilitation; Logistics, Standards; Conformance, Trade Promotion; Market Access, Sustainability; Innovation, Digitalisation; Technology as well as Investment and Branding.
Each strategic thrust will pursue a set of key strategies according to the specific areas to fulfil its strategic aim. A number of action plans are identified that will facilitate and enhance trade competitiveness throughout the business ecosystem.
The achievements of NTBp through the outcomes and impacts of its action plan under the 8 strategic thrusts will support the realisation of the export target of the 12th Malaysia Plan and its priority goals.
