Second Malaysia Services Exhibition - MSE 2009 - opens in Dubai on March 17
The Malaysia Services Exhibition (MSE 2009), organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) with the support of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will be held at the Dubai Airport Expo from March 17 to 19. Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and the Honourable Muhyiddin Yassin, the Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia will officiate the opening of the exhibition in the presence of senior trade officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
MSE 2009 will bring together over 200 service providers from 13 industry clusters - construction, engineering, financial services, healthcare and hospital-related services, ICT, oil & gas, education and specialised training, energy and power generation, logistics and transportation, professional services, franchising, design and art. The exhibition will especially focus on services critical to those industries and sectors seen as drivers of economic and social change in the Middle East and its neighbouring regions, the organisers said at a press conference in Dubai today.
"In spite of the global economic slowdown, countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and CIS seem determined to sustain their unprecedented growth. Bilateral exchanges between Malaysia and these countries are on a high growth curve and the services sector can compound this growth. Malaysian companies and organisations have world-class know-how and competency in meeting the needs of these expanding economies and their growing populations," His Excellency Yahaya Abdul Jabar, Malaysian Ambassador to the UAE told the press conference.
"Many of the service providers participating in MSE 2009 are already a major presence in the GCC, contributing to the expanding trade relations between Malaysia and the region. For example, Malaysian companies have secured 54 construction projects worth RM34.88 billion ($9.49 billion) in the GCC as of November 2008," the Ambassador stated.
"Preliminary trade figures show that GCC States contributed RM41.04 billion of a total trade of RM54.5 billion between Malaysia and West Asia in 2008. Total value of exports from Malaysia to West Asia stood at RM28.97 billion last year, of which RM19.17 billion came from GCC. Professional services from Malaysia account for an increasing share of this export revenues and we foresee a greater demand for our services in the prevailing global economic climate."
MATRADE has collaborated with various government agencies, trade associations as well as private bodies in Malaysia to ensure a strong and balanced representation of the service industry at MSE 2009. The event is expected to attract a large number of decision-makers and senior executives including CEOs, financiers, IT experts, human resource development personnel as well as entrepreneurs and students.
MSE 2009 follows the success of the first such exhibition held in Sharjah in 2008, with 168 companies representing 11 industry clusters from Malaysia. Mr Noraslan Hadi Abdul Kadir, Trade Commissioner of Malaysia in UAE said the participating clusters represent service categories that are the most sought after in overseas markets.
"MSE 2008 clearly showed that there is great appreciation and demand for Malaysian services in the Middle East. MSE 2009 will underline this growing realisation and serve as a strong platform for establishing strategic alliances in sourcing high quality, cost-effective solutions from Malaysia to the Middle East," said Abdul Kadir.
"We were confident that MSE 2009 will generate a good response from the targeted regions and so far we have confirmed trade visitors from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar and as far as India, Pakistan and Italy", concluded Abdul Kadir.
The organisers have also lined up a series of seminars and industry workshops as part of the 3-day services showcase. These, among others, include the Malaysia Services Forum scheduled on March 18 where industry leaders will present topics related to construction, healthcare and oil and gas. The Central Bank of Malaysia will host a forum on 'Malaysia-Opportunities in Islamic Finance'.
MSE 2009 will also feature a design showcase of creations by top Malaysian designers as well as unique art pieces from renowned art galleries. Networking receptions will be held at the venue from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on all three days of the event.
The exhibition will be held at the West Hall of Dubai Airport Expo with entry for visitors open from I p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first day and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the next two days.
MSE Objectives
Promote services from Malaysia to West Asia and surrounding regions (MENA) - Gain and further enhance the visibility of Malaysian services capabilities and expertise;
Brand Malaysian services by showcasing Malaysian companies' achievements in the international arena;
Provide an avenue for Malaysian services providers to network and forge strategic alliances with their potential clients or partners overseas; and
Provide a platform for international businesses to source the best of Malaysian services for their needs
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About MATRADE
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) was established on March 1, 1993 as the external trade promotion arm of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Its functions are:
To promote, assist and develop Malaysia's external trade with particular emphasis on the export of manufactured and semi-manufactured products and services;
To formulate and implement export marketing strategies and trade promotion activities to promote Malaysia's export;
To undertake commercial intelligence and market research and create a comprehensive database of information for the improvement and development of Malaysia's trade;
To organise training programmes to improve the international marketing skills of Malaysian exporters;
To enhance and protect Malaysia's international trade investment abroad; and
To promote, facilitate and assist in the services areas related to trade.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ahmadur Rahman
Marketing Officer
MATRADE Dubai
GL: +971-4-335 5528
DL: +971-4-335 5538
Fax : +971-4-335-2220
Mr. Walid Abu Shaban
Communication officer
Media Hub International
Mob.: +971 50 6469751
Tel: +971 4 2972740
Fax: +971 4 2972741
Mr. Jonathan Rao
Head of Corporate Communications
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation
GL: 603- 6207-7077
DL: 603-6207 7402
Fax: 603-6203 7194
© Press Release 2009
