Trade, exports expected to grow between 2, 3 per cent in 2015 - Mustapa

Malaysia's trade and exports are expected to grow between two and three per cent next year, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

Mustapa said the modest growth projection was due to the drop in world growth anticipated from 3.8 per cent to 3.5 per cent.

"We also face uncertainties created by fluctuations in oil prices and other commodities as well as mixed impact on sectors by the fluctuating exchange rate of the ringgit.

"However, we believe there will be recovery in the oil prices and there are pluses and minuses of the current ringgit performance to our exports," he said at a briefing on "Malaysia's Trade Performance 2014" here Thursday.

Meanwhile, he said, the ministry would accelerate exports programme through digital platforms such as 'MyExport & Trade2Media', 'eTrade' and Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade)'s portal.

On the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), Mustapa said the negotiations are ongoing.

"We have reviewed TPPA progress recently and some technical issues are not too difficult to be sorted out but some numbers of political issues need to be cleared," he said.

On Malaysia and Indonesia's commitment to increase bilateral trade to US$30 billion for 2015, he said both countries were committed to achieve the desired figure.

On another development, Mustapa said, Matrade would organise 116 export-promotion programmes to 46 countries.

"Matrade will be involved in organising events to attract local companies to promote their products and services overseas.

"They will co-organise the Malaysia International Halal Showcase, Intrade Malaysia and Malaysian International Furniture Fair and also hold international events such as Arab Health, Semicon West, Kuala Lumpur International Aerospace Business Convention and Gulf Food and Big 5," he said.