Awareness of the Matrade Export Assistance Programs on Malaysian SMEs
Abdul Jumaat Bin Mahajar, Jasmani Binti Mohd Yunus, Ahmad Zainal Abidin Bin Abd Razak

Abstract
The empirical research presented in this report focuses on the MATRADE export assistance programs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Malaysian manufacturing sector. More specifically, the study attempted to investigate the effectiveness of the exporting assistance programs offered by MATRADE. The data for the study was collected through the mail questionnaires and face to face interviewed to the selected SMEs. Of the total number 300 questionnaires mailed, 56 firms responded and 20 questionnaires was completed through face to face interview. Data from the questionnaires were coded and entered accordingly into the SPSS statistical software. The descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation and frequency distribution were utilized to analyze the data collected from the participating SMEs. The empirical information resulted from analyzing the data obtained from the 76 SMEs suggests the following findings such as most of the firms stated that they are lack of awareness of the exporting programs offered by MALTRADE, the SMEs perceived the export assistance programs as important; the usage of the export assistance programs varied among the SMEs and the SMEs received various benefits from the assistance programs.

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