Malaysia: Trade-Related Assistance (Arise + Malaysia)

    Overview

    Summary

    The ASEAN Regional Integration Support by the EU (ARISE) Plus Malaysia aims to support inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Malaysia through international trade and economic integration. It supports greater connectivity and economic integration between Malaysia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region in line with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025.

    The 3-year project, worth EUR 3 million, which started on 1 February 2021, comprises of the 3 following outcomes and outputs: 

    1. Outcome 1. Trade policy formulation and implementation is aligned with regional and international commitments 
      Output 1: Strengthened institutional capacities to formulate and implement trade policies aligned with ASEAN and international commitments 
    2. Outcome 2. Quality Infrastructure System is aligned with ASEAN and EU standards 
      Output 2: Enhanced capacity to develop and implement a quality infrastructure system (standards, certification and metrology) compliant with ASEAN and EU commitments and practices 
    3. Outcome 3. Sustainable practices in the agri-food sector is enhanced and disseminated, in line with ASEAN, international and EU standards
      Output 3: Enhanced understanding and implementation of sustainable production standards and practices in agriculture and fisheries

    These priority areas of support were identified together with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Malaysian stakeholders to help tackle specific trade-related challenges faced by Malaysia. They are also relevant to support Malaysia in managing the economic and trade impact of Covid-19.

    Ultimate project beneficiaries include Malaysian Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), which will benefit from improved business environment, policies and processes to increase their competitiveness. The focus on supporting Malaysia’s trade integration, which can positively impact job creation in export-oriented sectors, will notably contribute to addressing disadvantages faced more intensely by women and youth-owned businesses.

    Recipients

    Partners

    Sustainable Development Goals

    This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    Social media

    Projects

    Boosting Malaysia’s sustainable economic growth

    International connectivity and economic integration of Malaysia
    International connectivity and economic integration of Malaysia

    Malaysia has undergone a dramatic transformation from dependence on agriculture and commodity exports to a more diversified and open economy with strong links to global value chains. Malaysia reached high middle-income country status in 1992 and the World Bank predicts it will reach high-income country status between 2024-2028. 

    However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Malaysian economy to shrink. In addition, Malaysia still faces structural constraints that need to be addressed to ensure its full participation in the ASEAN economic space and global economy.

    Our project aims to:

    1. Upgrade capacities in policy areas relevant for modern and progressive Free Trade Agreements. This should improve connectivity with ASEAN and lead to more active and effective participation in the multilateral trading system.
    2. Improve product quality and competitiveness to better participate in global trade by upgrading Malaysia’s national quality infrastructure system, including developing a national quality policy, the enforcement of good regulatory practices and improving capacities to set, manage and enforce standards. 
    3. Enhance sustainable and internationally quality-compliant practices in the agri-food sector through the promotion of standards and certification in the agriculture and fishery sectors. This will support the compliance of Malaysian products with EU standards, increasing business and export opportunities for Malaysian SMEs.

    The launch of this three-year EU–funded project in February 2021 was timely, given the Government’s initiatives to enhance and reinvigorate the business and investment environment

    Through the training I gained exposure on recent models and different approaches taken by host states on investor-state dispute settlement, which is useful to facilitate my understanding in making evaluations before providing recommendations on positions to be taken on current or future investment guarantee agreements (IGAs) or free trade agreements (FTAs).
    Through the training I gained exposure on recent models and different approaches taken by host states on investor-state dispute settlement, which is useful to facilitate my understanding in making evaluations before providing recommendations on positions to be taken on current or future investment guarantee agreements (IGAs) or free trade agreements (FTAs).
    Salizan Abdul Aziz
    Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia
    Due to the obsolescence of the National Standardization Strategy and Action Plan in 2020, the development of a new NSS for Malaysia has become more crucial to support the nation. This training provides a comprehensive, systematic and practical approach in the development of a NSS document and introduces the ISO methodology which provides factual and empirical baselines as the main tools in the development of a credible NSS. This is extremely useful.
    Due to the obsolescence of the National Standardization Strategy and Action Plan in 2020, the development of a new NSS for Malaysia has become more crucial to support the nation. This training provides a comprehensive, systematic and practical approach in the development of a NSS document and introduces the ISO methodology which provides factual and empirical baselines as the main tools in the development of a credible NSS. This is extremely useful.
    Siti Mariam
    Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM)
    Through the training we realized the relevance to reach more stakeholders, such as civil society groups, beyond those we regularly engage with, to develop an exhaustive National Standardization Strategy.
    Through the training we realized the relevance to reach more stakeholders, such as civil society groups, beyond those we regularly engage with, to develop an exhaustive National Standardization Strategy.
    Shafiq Zakaria
    Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM)

    Resources

    ITC contact

    Ingrid
    Colonna
    Email
    colonna [at] intracen.org