MATRADE continues to drive the adoption of sustainability among Malaysian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), towards reinforcing their global competitiveness as export champions.
The benchmarking element on sustainability has provided value-added elements to existing customised exporters development programme, via exclusive coaching sessions by the graduates of Mid-Tier Companies Development Programme (MTCDP).
Senior Director of Transformation & Digital Trade Division of MATRADE, Khairul Annuar Abdul Halim said, “Sustainability has become an important agenda to elevate Malaysian exporters to tap into the global supply chain and strengthen their footprints internationally.
Based on the feedback received on the previous sessions conducted, this interactive programme serves as sharing knowledge platform between Mid-Tier companies (MTC) with MSMEs.
This programme encourages for closer relations between MSMEs and MTCs, besides being able to build working linkages and subsequently joining MTCs’ global supply chain in efforts to strengthen MSMEs’ global footprints.”
The benchmarking programme aims to guide the MSMEs on understanding major global trends and identifying critical elements of sustainability to be adopted and implemented. This value-added feature on exporters development is a journey to groom more export champions in the near future and increase the global competitiveness among the Malaysian exporters.
The rising demand on sustainability urges the Malaysian exporters to take control and be responsive on this matter as it will increase the impact on corporate reputation. Adoption of sustainable good practises and standard will become necessity in the near future. This has been addressed through National Trade Blueprint (NTBp) on pursuing sustainability and innovation. Several strategic recommendations that include establishment of sustainable manufacturing centre to nurture sustainable practises among Malaysian exporters and stakeholders, addressing forced labour issues while encouraging sustainability certification to promote long-term social sustainability and instillation of the concept of sustainability across the Government agencies to support the exporters in embracing the adoption of sustainability elements into their businesses.
“MATRADE will continue our efforts to future-proof Malaysian exporters under the Sustainability Action Values for Exporters (SAVE) initiative, which was introduced in 2019,” he added. SAVE is a dedicated initiative to drive more exporters to embrace sustainability policies and practices in their businesses ad operations, particularly to equip the companies or markets that have embedded the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) into their principles. MATRADE has also established strategic partnerships with reputable organisations such as UN Global Compact, CIMB and Malaysia Green Technology Corporation (MGTC).
In line with the 12th Malaysia Plan, MATRADE will strive to create more export champions, supporting the ongoing efforts by the Government in regenerating Malaysian economy, driving the growth of new sectors while striking the balance to ensure the socio-economic inclusiveness and sustainability.
