Partnership meeting with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation

A team from the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry met with partners from the national trade promotion agency of Malaysia - the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation “MATRADE”, with an office in Istanbul.

The President of BCCI Tsvetan Simeonov shared with the Head of MATRADE’s Istanbul office – Ms. Rosmizah Mat Jusoh, information about the Chamber’s work in support of Bulgarian and foreign businesses. He stressed that it is especially important for foreign companies to get to know their Bulgarian partners in advance and this can be done through the information provided in the Unified Trade Register of the Chamber, as well as by requesting additional available data for the specific company. Simeonov reminded that the cooperation between BCCI and MATRADE has a 15-year history and can continue with the exchange of information about companies with common business interests, exchange of business visits when the global situation allows, as well as adaptation of services and information to the specific needs of companies, including in digital format.

Rosmizah Mat Jusoh made a presentation of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation and explained that the Istanbul office is responsible for seven countries - Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Republic of North Macedonia and Turkey. She said that Malaysia’s trade with Europe in 2019 amounted to USD 47 billion, and Bulgaria was in 24^th place in terms of trade volume among the European countries. The fact is that Bulgarian exports to Malaysia fell by almost 20% in the first half of this year, mainly due to the pandemic.

Jusoh also pointed out the strengths of the Malaysian economy which develops green industries, renewable energy, manufacturing of rubber products, palm oil, and has good achievements in construction, the automotive industry, the aviation industry, etc.

It was agreed to continue the cooperation despite the difficult circumstances currently hindering business travel.