Malaysia Launches CIDBH Information Centre In Shanghai To Boost Trade Standards With China

SHANGHAI, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has launched the CIDB Holdings (CIDBH) Information Centre in Shanghai to strengthen standards compliance, transparency and trust in Malaysia–China trade relations, particularly within the construction sector.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the initiative reflected Malaysia’s commitment to ensuring transparent upstream certification for imported products, in line with national standards of quality and integrity.

“Malaysia imported nearly RM300 billion worth of goods from China in 2024, almost one-fifth of our total imports. With such scale, transparent upstream certification is essential.

“This initiative enables our Chinese partners to access the Malaysian market more efficiently and confidently, aligned with national standards of quality and integrity,” he said at the launch of the CIDBH Information Centre (Shanghai) here today.

Ahmad Zahid emphasised that the initiative underscored the principle of building “trust through standards”, explaining that standards fostered confidence by ensuring every product entering Malaysian homes, schools and roads is safe and fit for use, verified through Certificates of Approval (COA) and Product Performance Standards (PPS).

He said the CIDBH Information Centre (Shanghai) would serve four main functions, namely providing technical guidance on Malaysian standards and specifications for manufacturers and suppliers; certification support for accurate and timely COA and PPS applications; facilitating industry engagement between Malaysian and Chinese stakeholders and enabling digital onboarding to the ASSURE system for full traceability.

Since its launch in 2023, ASSURE has served 354 registered companies, both local and foreign, which reflects strong confidence in Malaysia’s regulatory system, which is now being extended to Shanghai.

“China produces over 30 per cent of the world’s construction materials, and Malaysia imports a large share from Chinese manufacturers. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded US2 billion, marking 16 years of China as our largest trading partner. The construction sector drives much of this trade,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid added that Malaysia’s National Construction Policy 2030 committed the country to developing a digital and sustainable ecosystem, and that the ASSURE system enabled Malaysia to test, trace, and verify construction products at their source.

“Manufacturers complete compliance before shipment, while authorities monitor documentation in real time for faster clearance and lower risk,” he said.

The initiative, he added, aligns with Malaysia’s economic strategy to become a high-trust, high-value economy, proving that Malaysia “is not just a buyer but a partner in growth and a guardian of standards”.

He further noted that the effort supported the Joint Statement on building a High-Level Strategic Malaysia–China Community with a Shared Future, translating that vision into reality by reinforcing trust, quality, and sustainability in bilateral cooperation.

“Expanding from Guangzhou to Shanghai marks scale and readiness: Guangzhou proved the concept, and Shanghai amplifies it. From here, we connect directly with major manufacturers, laboratories and logistics leaders,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid also expressed his appreciation to CIDB Holdings, Menara Asia, Shanghai Jianke and the Malaysian and Chinese technical teams for their dedicated collaboration, describing their effort as a model of strategic cooperation anchored in trust and competence.

He added that Shanghai served as a gateway for broader engagement with new regions and industries, as Malaysia aimed to lead with standards rather than merely follow with imports.

“I am pleased to note that plans are underway for the next CIDB Information Centre in Beijing, a continuation of this shared spirit of cooperation.

“This is why today matters. Together, we are stepping forward in the global supply chain with clarity, confidence and capability,” he said before officially launching the CIDBH Information Centre (Shanghai) in collaboration with Menara Asia Sdn Bhd.

-- BERNAMA