KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia targets to improve the share of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country’s export market, it would be crucial for these companies to toe the environmental, social and governance (ESG) line.
That is the view of Abu Bakar Yusof, deputy chief executive at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade), who revealed that the government intends to increase the share of SMEs in the export market to 15% next year, and to 30% in 2030.
Abu Bakar reported that MSMEs had contributed approximately 10.5% to last year’s total export amount of RM1.43 trillion, up from the 9.5% of RM1.53 trillion in 2022.
Speaking at the first Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium conference (A-EPIC) here last Friday, he said Matrade has a natural mandate to work with MSMEs as this group comprises 97.4% of the 1.2 million registered business in Malaysia.
