Malaysia-Taiwan trade remains strong amid Covid

by FAYYADH JAAFAR / pic BERNAMA

MALAYSIA and Taiwan bilateral trade climbed by 26% to US$27.7 billion (RM123.27 billion) despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Anne Hung, the representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia, said the Taiwan Expo in Malaysia aims to solidify bilateral trade ties.

“It is projected to reach 1,000 one-on-one business matchings via the Taiwan Expo as stipulated under the New Southbound Policy,” she said during the opening of the Taiwan Expo in Kuala Lumpur (KL). 

The actual exhibition will be presented at KL’s Sunway Velocity mall from Aug 2 to Aug 7, while the online exhibition will continue for a month from Tuesday to Sept 2.

The items chosen for the Taiwan Expo in Kuala Lumpur in 2022 were chosen to conform with the roadmap developed under the 12th Malaysian Plan. The exhibition revolves around five major themes: Industry Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) and green economy, smart medical, smart agriculture, halal, Taiwan lifestyles and talents, tourism and financial services.

Taiwan Expo has been hosted in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Penang, and online since 2017. This year’s hybrid event in KL is mostly an online event, with the offline component helping to enhance the exhibition.

Taiwan External Trade Development Council chairman James Huang; Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre president in Taipei Sharon Ho Swee Peng; representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia Anne Hung; Export Acceleration from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp deputy CEO Sharimahton Mat Saleh; and representatives from 17 Malaysian chambers of commerce and industry were all present at the event.

During his speech, Huang discussed the need to embrace innovation as a means of adapting to the shifting lifestyles that are common in a society that has just emerged from a pandemic.

“From IR4.0 to telemedicine, the shifting trends have a substantial influence on many sectors, and the Taiwan Expo exhibits many of the items that are at the forefront of the changing global environment,” he said.

“Malaysia and Taiwan have had a strong connection in many spheres, including their economies, commerce, culture, and the arts, for a very long time, and the links between the two countries have only gotten stronger over the years. Because of this, Taiwan Expo is the ideal setting for Malaysian companies who are interested in investigating these other commercial possibilities,” he noted.

In addition, the Taiwanese Halal Food and Plant-based Meat Cooking Contest will be conducted in KL’s Sunway Velocity Mall on the afternoon of Aug 6, with the goal of further demonstrating the potential of halal food sector in Taiwan.

For the purpose of the competition, eleven halal food items spanning nine different brands will be brought in from Taiwan. The competition will include five teams, each of which will be comprised of two students from the Faculty of Hospitality, Tourism and Wellness at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan. Chef Mohd Johari Edrus, also known simply as Chef Jo, is a renowned chef from all over the world, and he will be one of the judges for this event.

Taiwan Expo in Malaysia 2022 is supported by 17 business associations in Malaysia, including the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, Taiwan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Malaysia, SME Association of Malaysia, among others.