Hinrich Foundation unveils Malaysia Digital Trade report in Kuala Lumpur

Around 110 participants attended the launch event at the Four Season Hotel. The report examines the current and potential impact of digital trade at home and quantifies the economic value of technological gains enabled by digital trade. It also recommends perceived concerns related to digital trade and how they can be addressed.

Malaysia’s Deputy Secretary General (Trade), Dato’ Sri Norazman Ayob, gave a keynote speech at the launch event. He emphasised on the government policies and private players role in promoting digital trade in the country. His speech was followed by a presentation by Dr Konstantin Matthies, Engagement Manager at AlphaBeta.

In the presentation, Matthies said that the economic value of digital trade-enabled benefits to the Malaysian economy is estimated to be worth US$5.6 billion, which is equivalent to 1.8 percent of its GDP.

According to the report, it is estimated that the value to Malaysia’s domestic sector could grow by more than 9-fold to reach US$51.6 billion by 2030.

Matthies emphasised on Malaysia’s digital exports during his presentation. According to him, digital exports account for about 3 percent of Malaysia’s total export value today, and this could grow by a massive 298 percent from today’s level to reach US$ 28.5 billion by 2030.

However, Malaysia’s limited trading commitments and local license requirements on telecommunications services, as well as its content and data restrictions, could impact data flows and undermine Malaysian companies and the country’s ability to capture the digital opportunity.

Matthies informative presentation was followed by a lively Q&A session.

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