Shining a light on trade successes
Celebrating industry excellence: (Front, from left) Standard Chartered Saadiq Malaysia CEO Bilal Parvaiz, Tio, SMG chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng, Chan, Shahril, Wong, Mastura, Chia, Mak, Jai Shankar and Wang posing with the award winners at EEA 2024 Gala Night. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's export sector continues to thrive, driven by agile and resilient businesses, says Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz at the Export Excellence Awards (EEA) 2024 Gala Night.
The Investment, Trade and Industry Minister said businesses must adopt forward-looking strategies in today's rapidly evolving global landscape.
'Malaysia's exporters have demonstrated remarkable adaptability and resilience, contributing to the continued strength of our trade sector,' he said in the keynote address yesterday.
His speech was delivered by the ministry's deputy secretary-general (Trade) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa.
The nation's top exporters were celebrated at the prestigious EEA 2024 Gala Night, recognising outstanding contributions in propelling Malaysia's global trade presence.
Organised by Star Media Group (SMG) in partnership with Standard Chartered Malaysia, the EEA marks its fifth year as a premier platform showcasing exemplary Malaysian exporters who have demonstrated innovation, resilience and excellence in the international marketplace.
A total of 30 outstanding exporters were honoured across 14 award categories, celebrating their achievements across various sectors and company sizes.
Notable accolades included the Special Award: Rising Star, presented to Euro Facade (M) Sdn Bhd; Woman Exporter of the Year (SMEs) to Joanne Tay of KJH Wood Industrial Sdn Bhd; and Woman Exporter of the Year (Mid-tier and Large Companies) to Sarah Ho of Hovid Bhd.
GPRO Global Sdn Bhd and Swift PMAS Sdn Bhd were named Exporters of the Year for the SME and Mid-tier/Large Company categories, respectively.
Tengku Zafrul further highlighted the strategic importance of the EEA, saying the collaboration between SMG and Standard Chartered Malaysia is a testament to how strategic partnerships can drive industry growth.
'Since its inception five years ago, the EEA has played a crucial role in showcasing and elevating Malaysia's top exporters in the global arena, reinforcing our nation's competitiveness.
'It also fosters a robust ecosystem that encourages knowledge-sharing, best practices, and capacity-building among industry players,' he said.
Among the distinguished guests present were SMG chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, Standard Chartered Malaysia chief executive officer (CEO) Mak Joon Nien, SMG group CEO Chan Seng Fatt, Standard Chartered Malaysia chairman Datuk Yvonne Chia, Standard Chartered Malaysia independent non-executive director Tan Sri Shahril Ridzuan, Matrade Export Promotion and Market Access Division senior director S. Jai Shankar, PKT Logistics Group group chief executive and managing director Datuk Seri Dr Michael Tio and SMG chief operating officer Lydia Wang.
Mak provided a broader economic perspective in his remarks, highlighting global fiscal trends and technological disruption.
'Back in 2019, the US government debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 74%. Today, it has risen to 124%, marking a 70 percentage-point increase in just five years,' he said.
Drawing comparisons with Malaysia, Mak noted: 'Despite having seen four different governments since 2019, Malaysia has displayed remarkable resilience, maintaining an average GDP growth of around 4% over the last five years. This underscores the strength of our economic fundamentals.'
Mak also pointed to the country's performance in the EEA, where over 60% of submissions since 2019 have come from high-value industries.
'Export performance has grown from RM986.4bil in 2019 to RM1.508 trillion in 2024 – a 53% increase – demonstrating the country's ability to recalibrate and thrive,' he added.
In his address, Chan emphasised the EEA's founding vision.
'The EEA was established with a clear purpose – to shine a spotlight on Malaysian exporters who have successfully carved their mark in global markets.
'Over the past five years, we have witnessed remarkable growth, resilience and inspiring success stories that have solidified Malaysia's reputation as a dynamic trading nation,' he said.
Chan also underscored the growing importance of digitalisation and sustainability in trade.
'Our exporters have shown an extraordinary ability to weather economic uncertainties and embrace digital transformation, sustainability and global expansion as the new cornerstones of success.
'The future of Malaysian exports lies in these pillars, which will ensure our continued competitiveness on the world stage,' he said.
PKT Logistics Group co-sponsored the EEA 2024, with Matrade serving as patron and BDO as the official auditor.
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