The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Dagang NeXchange Berhad (DNeX) have formalized a strategic collaboration through the signing of a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) to strengthen trade facilitation and accelerate the adoption of digital trade solutions among Malaysian businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The collaboration aims to empower the MADANI Digital Trade Platform (MDTP) as a key national digital export hub, providing digital trade solutions and trade facilitation services to the exporter community, the duo said in a statement on Tuesday.
The collaboration will make digital trade facilitation more accessible to SMEs by bringing key export and customs processes together within a single digital platform.
By integrating customs declaration services into MDTP, the collaboration will provide SMEs and exporters with more accessible and seamless digital trade facilitation through a single platform.
The MoC will leverage the respective capabilities of MDTP, an initiative established by MATRADE, and DNeX TradeHub, a digital trade facilitation platform under the purview of DNeX.
Through the integration and utilization of these platforms, the collaboration aims to enhance the accessibility of digital trade services, facilitate trade processes and support Malaysian businesses in navigating the requirements of international trade more efficiently.
“The collaboration also represents a long-term strategic initiative to address the evolving needs and challenges faced by businesses in navigating the increasingly complex global trade environment” said Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE.
Indera Abu Bakar Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE, said by providing seamless digital trade facilitation services, the initiative is expected to enhance convenience and efficiency for the exporter community in undertaking trade activities, including cross-border e-commerce, while supporting businesses in adapting to the growing digitalization of international trade.
“The strategic partnership with DNeX will further amplify the efforts by MATRADE to sustain the current export growth, especially by the local homegrown exporters, including the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),” he said.
He also said MATRADE strives to facilitate and uplift export growth by MSMEs targeted between 6 to 7 percent as aspired under the 13th Malaysia Plan and to be able to achieve this the current initiatives under whole of government approach and the strategic partnership with industry stakeholders will be being intensified.
According to the statement, DNeX, as the trade facilitation partner, will provide access to its digital trade platform, DNeX TradeHub, together with the technical support and expertise required to integrate the platform with MDTP.
DNeX will also enable SMEs and exporters to onboard and utilize the platform, and will work closely with MATRADE to support the implementation and adoption of digital trade solutions among participating businesses.
DNeX TradeHub is a digital trade facilitation platform that brings together businesses, government agencies and trade ecosystem partners through a single, connected digital gateway.
It is designed to serve as a central aggregation point for Malaysia’s digital trade ecosystem, connecting customs declaration, logistics, trade financing and other value-added services within a unified environment.
This would create new opportunities for logistics, financing and technology partners within the ecosystem, while reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a regional digital trade hub.
“Malaysia’s competitiveness in global trade will increasingly depend on how well our trade infrastructure is connected,
“Our collaboration with MDTP strengthens this ecosystem by simplifying access to trade services, reducing friction and enabling Malaysian businesses to participate more efficiently and competitively in regional and global markets.” said Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir, Chairman of DNeX.
Shiraz Ramli, Chief Executive Officer of DNeX IT, said for most SMEs, the hardest part of exporting is not the ambition – it is the number of systems, logins and forms that sit between a confirmed order and a shipment that clears.
“Leveraging DNeX’s proven track record in managing mission-critical national trade infrastructure, TradeHub will evolve from a transaction processor into a comprehensive digital marketplace. We plan to scale this ecosystem progressively across MATRADE’s entire network,” he added.
The collaboration reflects the parties’ shared commitment to advancing the digitalization of Malaysia’s trade ecosystem and enhancing the accessibility of trade facilitation services for Malaysian businesses.
By combining MATRADE’s strategic role and extensive exporter network with DNeX’s digital trade facilitation capabilities and technical expertise, the collaboration is expected to create greater opportunities for businesses to leverage digital solutions throughout their export journey.
The MoC will further align with MATRADE’s 2026 roadmap and the 13th Malaysia Plan to strengthen Malaysia’s export ecosystem, enhance the economic mobility and competitiveness of MSMEs through international trade, and increase their contribution to the nation’s overall export performance.
This strategic collaboration underscores MATRADE’s continued commitment to strengthening Malaysia’s trade ecosystem through digitalization and innovation, while supporting Malaysian businesses in becoming more competitive, connected and export-ready in the evolving global trading environment, said the statement.
MATRADE, DHL deepen strategic partnership to strengthen export resilience of Malaysian MSMEs