Matrade bags Islamic Solidarity Prize

Businsess Times
MALAYSIA External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) has been awarded the Islamic Development Bank's "Islamic Solidarity Prize" for its efforts in promoting trade among the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member nations.

Matrade chief executive officer Datuk Noharuddin Nordin accepted the award in Istanbul on Thursday. It was presented by Turkish President Dr Abdullah Gul."As a result of the Malaysian Government's vision to boost trade between OIC member states as well as to promote Islamic trade and commerce, Matrade has established a secured foundation of strategic programmes that will realise both the goals," Noharuddin said in a statement.

For the period January to August 2008, Malaysia's total trade with the OIC member nations rose 36.1 per cent to RM81.19 billion, compared with RM59.67 billion for the same period in 2007.