M'sian delegation rakes in RM192.95 million sales from trade mission to Christchurch

The Malaysian delegation to Specialised Marketing Mission on Building Materials and Malaysia Services Exhibition in Christchurch has generated sales of RM192.95 million.

Among the products that contributed to the sales were pre-fabricated building products, aluminium extrusions, plumbing products, energy saving products such as LED streetlight and construction services in steel fabrication and building automation.

The four-day trade mission was led by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) from Dec 3, 2013.

"The rebuilding work in Christchurch will accelerate in the next few years and now is the right time to come into the market as work has just started.

"The total reconstruction costs are estimated to be about RM120 billion and more Malaysian companies should look at Christchurch and forge strategic partnerships and venture into this market.

"As 95 per cent of the work is still in the pipeline, Matrade will initiate more marketing efforts to enable more Malaysian companies to participate in rebuilding Christchurch," Matrade Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Wong Lai Sum said in a statement, Thursday.

Matrade said the trade mission was organised in a bid to tap opportunities to supply Malaysian building materials, products and construction related services for the reconstruction of Christchurch which was greatly affected by the Canterbury earthquake in February 2011.

It said one-on-one business meetings were arranged with Kiwi businessmen in construction related industries such as developers, contractors, consultants and importers of building materials.

Matrade said the Kiwi businessmen had shown great interest in building materials like fabricated steel; lightweight aerated concrete blocks; pre-fabricated construction technology and lightweight panels; aluminium extrusions and plumbing products; security products; and building automation and

management system.