11.   Now, when we feel all is lost and we cannot depend on our primary commodities anymore, it is making a spirited rebound in exciting, new ways.

12.   Of course, the major sectors, such as primary commodities, construction and property and finance and banking will matter a lot.

13.   Rafidah said that Malaysia and its Asean trading partners can conceiveably start with primary commodities and then move on to other products.

14.   Rubber, palm oil, cocoa and timber products were the major primary commodities that contributed significantly to the growth of Gross Domestic Product, employment and export earnings.

15.   The second trend is the structural shift of the economy in favour of the manufacturing and services sectors and less reliance on the primary commodities.

16.   The surplus was attributed to the slowdown in domestic demand, strong output growth of export-oriented manufacturing industries and higher prices of primary commodities.

17.   In addition, it warns that LDCs which are highly dependent on primary commodity exports face a tougher time than those who are not.

18.   Exports of manufactured goods and articles continued to grow strongly while the major primary commodities showed a mixed performance, it added.

19.   The department said exports of manufactured goods and articles continued to grow strongly while the major primary commodities showed a mixed performance.