Dear All,

MALAYSIA MARKET - TRADE NEWS UPDATE

Malaysia's Reserves at RM366.8b

Malaysia's international reserves, as at February 15 2008, stood at RM366.8 billion (US$110.9 billion), which is sufficient to finance 9.2 months of retained imports and is 6.5 times the short-term external debt, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said in a recent statement.

Industrial Park in Perak attracts RM2 billion investments

The Robotics and Industrial Automation Industrial Park (RAIA) in Meru, Perak has attracted RM2 billion in investments.

Among the 30 companies that would be investing in the park include those
in advanced electronics, mechanical electronics, information communication and technology (ICT), nanotechnology and creative content production focusing on innovation as well as research and development (R&D).

RAIA, which is being developed on a 3,350-acre land, is expected to generate 6,000 new technical and engineering jobs, upon scheduled completion by
2013. The Park will target investors in the industrial automation and robotics
ranging from automated manufacturing to engineering services; systems
design to systems integration including software development to hardware installation; as well as those involved in basic and applied research; technology transfer and commercialisation of new technologies.

TRADE PERFORMANCE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2008

A trade surplus of RM9.79 billion was recorded in January 2008, the 123rd consecutive month of monthly trade surplus since November 1997. This was an increase of 4.1% from December 2007 and a surge of 28.8% from the previous year. Total trade in January 2008 amounted to RM96.26 billion, an increase of 8.8% from January 2007.

Exports in January 2008 valued at RM53.03 billion, was the highest value ever recorded for the month of January.  This was an increase of 10.4% from January 2007, attributed mainly to higher exports of palm oil, refined petroleum products and crude petroleum. Exports in January 2008 were 2.1% lower than December 2007.

Imports in January 2008 grew by 6.9% from a year ago to RM43.23 billion, on account of significant increases in imports of intermediate and consumption goods. Imports in January 2008 were 3.4% lower than December 2007.

Thank you and best regards.

“TOGETHER WE ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE”

Yours in MAICCI,