PETALING JAYA: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has signed a collaboration agreement with CAIQ Biosecurity Sdn Bhd to strengthen technical compliance support and market readiness for Malaysian exporters targeting China.
The collaboration, implemented under the Malaysia-China Gateway Initiative (MCGi), aims to support Malaysian companies, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises, in better understanding China’s import-related requirements, including product testing, documentation, labelling, traceability and related regulatory procedures.
“Through the MCGi, Matrade aims to bridge the gap between market access and technical compliance by providing Malaysian exporters with a more structured, practical and end-to-end pathway into China.
“This framework is timely as Matrade expands its China market strategy beyond first-tier cities to high-potential second- and third-tier cities, where demand for premium, trusted, safe and origin-based products continues to grow,” Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said.
Covering agriculture, aquatic products, food, beverages and health food, cosmetics, healthcare, pet care, commodities and selected geographical indication products such as Musang King durian, Sarawak pepper and other Malaysian origin-based offerings, MCGi helps to strengthen exporters’ readiness, reduce compliance-related risks and position Malaysian products as compliant, market-ready and competitive in China.
As China remains a high-potential but technically demanding market, many Malaysian exporters in food, agriculture, cosmetics, health-related products and other regulated sectors require early preparation for product documentation, testing, labelling, registration and traceability for market entry.
Through their collaboration, Matrade and CAIQ Biosecurity will provide pre-export advisory services, testing facilitation, and compliance guidance to help exporters reduce avoidable compliance gaps before shipment and market engagement.
Matrade CEO Abu Bakar Yusof said the initiative establishes a structured mechanism to help local businesses navigate cross-border technical requirements with greater confidence. “This collaboration is expected to improve time-to-market readiness and enable Malaysian enterprises to enhance competitiveness in China’s fast-evolving market.”
The formalised cooperation represents an important step in strengthening Matrade’s export facilitation role for China.
Although China remains Malaysia’s top trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching RM541.54 billion in 2025, many Malaysian companies continue to face steep learning curves when navigating complex regulatory frameworks across the border.
MCGi is intended to provide exporters with a clearer, more practical pathway to improve their market readiness before entering the Chinese market.
CAIQ Biosecurity is the Malaysia-based service window for the China Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ) Test Group, providing one-stop technical support for Malaysian products exported to China, including consultation, training, testing, inspection, filing, labelling review, traceability and China-related registration services.
The collaboration will allow Matrade to complement its export promotion, market intelligence and buyer-linkage functions with structured technical compliance support, thereby helping Malaysian exporters, particularly MSMEs, improve China market readiness, reduce regulatory risks and strengthen buyer confidence.
While yesterday’s ceremony marks a major milestone, Matrade and CAIQ Biosecurity have built a prior working relationship through selected advisory engagements and trade promotion activities.
This formal signing transitions the cooperation into a more structured partnership under the MCGi.
Moving forward, both parties plan to introduce targeted compliance workshops, consultation clinics and pre-export advisory support to strengthen public-private collaboration in international trade facilitation.
All regulatory approvals remain subject to the applicable requirements and decisions of the relevant authorities.
