Do More To Promote Opportunities In ASEAN, M'sian Minister Urges MNCs, Business Associations

KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed wants the multinational companies (MNCs) and business associations to step up their efforts in promoting business opportunities in ASEAN countries to smaller enterprises in Malaysia. He said currently, the level of engagement between them was low, thus the private sector should come up with initiatives to share the benefits of trading in ASEAN countries with their smaller counterparts. "They should play the additional role to the programmes initiated by the government," he told reporters at the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Open Day here Monday. Meanwhile, Mustapa said, the ministry would develop a centralised website on promotional activities and related programmes in the ASEAN countries for the reference of entrepreneurs and potential traders. "We already have all the information online, but it requires potential traders to go around clicking several links before they can get to the information," he said. Last year, Malaysia's global trade amounted to RM1.47 trillion (US$377.94 billion) and of the total, 27.4 per cent was with the ASEAN countries.(US$1 = RM3.88) The AEC Open Day aims to create greater awareness of the huge potentials offered by the establishment of AEC among Malaysian business community, as well as, to highlight ASEAN's plan at deepening economic integration over the next 10 years via the AEC Blueprint's implementation. -- BERNAMA