Latest news with #TradeandIndustry
Malaysia Sun
an hour ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Malaysia's exports down 1.1 pct on year in May
Xinhua 20 Jun 2025, 17:15 GMT+10 KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's exports recorded a slight decrease of 1.1 percent to 126.62 billion ringgit (29.78 billion U.S dollars) in May, official data showed Friday. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) said in a statement that the exports of manufactured goods, which contributed 86.9 percent to total exports, edged down by 0.3 percent year-on-year to 110.01 billion ringgit, due to lower exports of petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products as well as iron and steel products. Malaysia's trade, however, increased by 2.6 percent year-on-year to 252.48 billion ringgit in May. Its imports grew by 6.6 percent to 125.86 billion ringgit, while the country's trade surplus amounted to 766.3 million ringgit. For the period of January to May, Malaysia's trade rose 6.2 percent year-on-year to 1.23 trillion ringgit compared to the corresponding period in 2024. During the period, its exports expanded 5.5 percent to 638.48 billion ringgit and imports up by 6.9 percent to 591.54 billion ringgit. Trade surplus for the period stood at 46.94 billion ringgit, a slip of 9.4 percent. (1 ringgit equals 0.24 U.S. dollars)
Borneo Post
5 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Malaysia posts 17th consecutive month of trade growth
In a statement today, Miti says total trade increased by 2.6 per cent to reach RM252.48 billion, setting a new record for the highest monthly value ever posted in May. – Bernama photo KUCHING (June 20): Malaysia's trade performance continued its upward momentum last month, marking the 17th consecutive month of year-on-year growth since January last year, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti). In a statement today, the ministry said total trade increased by 2.6 per cent to reach RM252.48 billion, setting a new record for the highest monthly value ever posted in May. 'Exports recorded a slight decrease of 1.1 per cent to RM126.62 billion, while imports grew by 6.6 per cent to RM125.86 billion. 'Malaysia also maintained a trade surplus for the 61st consecutive month since May 2020, amounting to RM766.3 million,' it added. Miti pointed out that exports of electrical and electronic (E&E) products continued to show resilient performance last month, registering an increase of nearly RM4 billion. 'This is consistent with the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) forecast of an 11.2 per cent increase in global semiconductor sales this year.' It stated that Malaysia, as a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain, stands to benefit significantly from this anticipated expansion. 'Nevertheless, potential challenges remain, notably the uncertainties in global economic conditions. While the sector's outlook remains positive, proactive policy responses will be crucial to sustain this growth momentum,' it added. 'By destination, exports to key trading partners including the United States and the European Union recorded robust growth, while exports to Taiwan not only expanded but also attained a new record-high.' The ministry said exports to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners, notably the United Kingdom and New Zealand, also recorded increases, primarily due to higher shipments of palm oil-based manufactured products. For the first five months of this year, it noted that trade, exports, and imports achieved their highest cumulative value on record. 'Trade rose 6.2 per cent to RM1.23 trillion compared to the corresponding period last year, with exports expanding 5.5 per cent to RM638.48 billion and imports up by 6.9 per cent to RM591.54 billion. 'Trade surplus stood at RM46.94 billion, a slip of 9.4 per cent,' it added. Recognising the impact of global trade uncertainties, Miti said together with the Malaysian External Trade Development Corp (Matrade), they are ramping up efforts to build resilience in the trade ecosystem. 'These strategic initiatives are also contributing to Malaysia's growing global competitiveness. In the World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) 2025 published recently, Malaysia advanced 11 spots to the 23rd position among 69 economies. 'This marked the country's strongest performance since 2020 and signalled renewed investors' confidence in Malaysia's economic governance and policy direction.' malaysia Miti trade performance
Kyodo News
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
Shingo Natsume's First Original Feature-Length Anime Film "ghost (Working Title)" Announced for 2027 Release!
The highly anticipated latest work from rising animation director Shingo Natsume, his first original theatrical anime "ghost (working title)," has been officially announced! The film is scheduled for release in 2027. Along with the announcement, a teaser visual and partial staff information have been revealed. ▲Teaser visual The teaser visual features a mysterious girl named Nike, holding a glass sword and gazing straight ahead with determined eyes. The background shows a starry sky and vibrantly colored flowers, hinting at the beginning of the story. Shingo Natsume's First Original Theatrical Anime "ghost (Working Title)" Announced! Shingo Natsume is renowned for directing numerous anime series including "One Punch Man," "ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept.," "Sonny Boy," and "The Tatami Time Machine Blues." His unique artistic vision, showcased in his first original TV anime "Sonny Boy," garnered widespread acclaim and established him as a distinctive voice in animation. The recognition for Natsume's work extends beyond Japan, with "Sonny Boy" earning a nomination in the TV competition category at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the world's largest animation festival. Now, with "ghost (working title)," Natsume is poised to make his much-anticipated debut in original feature-length theatrical animation. The animation production will be handled by Madhouse, the legendary studio behind beloved classics such as Satoshi Kon's "Millennium Actress" and "Paprika," as well as Mamoru Hosoda's "Summer Wars." Madhouse has long collaborated with Natsume and continues to produce works that captivate audiences worldwide. Adding to the project's star power, manga artist Natsume Ono will provide the original character designs, while Norifumi Kugai will adapt them for animation. This reunites the team from the TV anime "ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept.," bringing together a formidable crew currently hard at work on the production. Natsume expresses his vision for the film, stating, "Through the medium of animation, which can be seen as a form of fiction, I aim to create a work that captures the essence of our times while pursuing a sense of reality." The story revolves around the concept of a "ghost" that resides within everyone's heart - genuine feelings that can't be put into words but are undeniably present. The film follows Nike, a young girl who rebels against the world's absurdities to protect the "starry sky." It promises to be a challenging work that poetically depicts Nike's loneliness, bravery, and the subtle changes in her heart as she interacts with others. Currently in production with a team of resonant creators, the film is slated for theatrical release in 2027. The film's production announcement visual will be displayed as a poster from June 10th at the Japan Annex booth (hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / Visual Industry Promotion Organization) at the ongoing Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France. A pitch session for the work is also scheduled. Stay tuned for more updates on this globally anticipated project! Director's Profile Shingo Natsume Shingo Natsume made his TV series directorial debut with "Space☆Dandy" (2014) and has since helmed several notable works, including "One-Punch Man" (2015), "ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept." (2017), and "Boogiepop and Others" (2019). In 2021, he took on multiple roles as director, scriptwriter, creator, and storyboard artist for the original TV anime "Sonny Boy," which garnered attention from global audience for its unique worldview. Natsume participated as episode director in "The Tatami Galaxy" (2010), directed by Masaaki Yuasa and produced by Madhouse. He was then chosen to direct the theatrical sequel, "The Tatami Time Machine Blues," released in 2022. "ghost (working title)" marks his first original feature-length anime film for theatrical release. Original Theatrical Anime Film: "ghost" (Working Title) Scheduled for Release in 2027 STAFF Original Concept: Shingo Natsume, Tomohiro Suzuki, Bandai Namco Filmworks, MADHOUSE Director & Screenplay: Shingo Natsume Original Character Design: Natsume Ono Character Design: Norifumi Kugai Animation Production: MADHOUSE (C)ghost production committee
Malaysian Reserve
8 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
MITI: Malaysia's trade up 2.6% to RM252.48b in May
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia's trade increased by 2.6 per cent in May 2025 to reach RM252.48 billion, marking the 17th consecutive month of year-on-year growth since January 2024, said the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. In a statement today, it said exports recorded a slight decrease of 1.1 per cent to RM126.62 billion, while imports grew 6.6 per cent to RM125.86 billion. Trade surplus for the month stood at RM766.3 million, maintaining a trade surplus for the 61st consecutive month since May 2020. The ministry noted that exports of electrical and electronics (E&E) products continued to show resilient performance, registering an increase of nearly RM4 billion — consistent with the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics forecast of an 11.2 per cent increase in global semiconductor sales in 2025. 'As a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain, Malaysia stands to benefit significantly from this anticipated expansion. 'Nevertheless, potential challenges remain, notably the uncertainties in global economic conditions. While the sector's outlook remains positive, proactive policy responses will be crucial to sustain this growth momentum,' it said. According to MITI, trade, exports and imports achieved their highest cumulative value on record for the January to May 2025 period, with trade growing 6.2 per cent to RM1.23 trillion compared to the corresponding period in 2024. Exports expanded 5.5 per cent to RM638.48 billion and imports rose 6.9 per cent to RM591.54 billion, while the trade surplus slipped 9.4 per cent to RM46.94 billion. The ministry noted that exports to key trading partners, including the United States and the European Union recorded robust growth, while exports to Taiwan not only expanded but also attained a new record high. 'Exports to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners, notably the United Kingdom and New Zealand also recorded increases, primarily due to higher shipments of palm oil-based manufactured products,' it added. — BERNAMA
The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
‘Do not neglect our well-being'
KUALA LUMPUR: As women shoulder growing responsibilities in the workplace and at home, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is calling for focus on mental health and work-life balance to avoid burnout. Speaking at the Women Economic Forum (WEF) Asean 2025, the Prime Minister's wife and former deputy prime minister stressed that true progress means not just economic empowerment, but also shared family duties and emotional well-being – areas often overlooked in the push for gender equality. 'Despite our hectic work schedules, we must not neglect our well-being, including mental health, in the pursuit of work-life balance. 'Achieving this balance involves dedication to personal growth and development to enhance professional skills while nurturing spiritual and emotional well-being,' she said in her opening speech at the event yesterday, which was attended by women leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers from across the region. Dr Wan Azizah, who is the Bandar Tun Razak MP, noted that work-life balance, however, remains a challenge for working parents who lack the extra support to afford living costs, manage careers and maintain good parenting. 'Yes, we want more women to contribute to the economy, yet we must also remind ourselves that caring for the family is a shared responsibility. 'Both parents should actively participate in the emotional, physical and logistical aspects of raising children and sharing household duties,' she said, adding that the balance may not always be equal but should be based on mutual understanding and tolerance. Speaking from her experience, Dr Wan Azizah called on parents not to take for granted the responsibility of taking care of our families. 'This responsibility extends beyond the visible and direct expenses. Unpaid care work, household management and emotional support have substantial economic value, but they are not quantifiable. 'Whether we realise it or not, the 'profits' can only be 'sown' in perhaps 20 years' time,' she said. In her address, Dr Wan Azizah said the concept of the 'SHEconomy' is a testament to the growing influence of women in shaping economic narratives. She said the forum's theme, 'Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of Asean SHEconomy', resonated deeply with her vision of leadership, inclusivity and cross-border collaboration. 'I believe this forum can highlight women's roles in advancing technology, sustainability, trade, and governance,' she said, expressing her hope that the dialogues will translate into actionable commitments and partnerships. 'Let us commit ourselves wholeheartedly to building a world where gender ceases to be a barrier to success and where every woman has the opportunity to shine,' she added. Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, who was at the event, called for urgent measures to enhance female participation in Malaysia's economy. He said there is a need for equal opportunities for women across all aspects of life, noting a discrepancy between women's educational attainment and their workforce participation. 'Although 65% of our public university students are women, the female labour participation rate lags at 56%, compared to 82.9% for men. This is a challenge we must overcome for Malaysia to thrive,' he said. Despite successes like women holding 58% of civil service jobs and 42% of decision-making positions, Liew identified barriers such as reliance on cheap foreign labour and inadequate childcare services. 'We need to change this. By moving our economy up the value chain, we can attract more skilled women into the formal labour market,' he said. The opening ceremony also saw several notable awards presented to deserving leaders and entrepreneurs. Among the awards presented were the Women of the Decade, Leaders of the Decade, Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All, and Exceptional Women of Excellence. Taking place until June 21, the three-day WEF Asean 2025 is organised by Yayasan Bina Kesejahteraan with the support of the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry. The forum focuses on efforts to create a cross-border economic ecosystem, emphasising dignity, inclusivity and data-driven policies, with gender equality as a core principle. Fireside chats, plenary sessions, workshops, roundtable meetings and WEF Awards will take place throughout the days before culminating in a closing ceremony tomorrow.
