GERMAN FIRM VISITS MALAYSIA, INDONESIA FROM OCT 9-17

By Manik Mehta

FRANKFURT, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- A Frankfurt-based German group that promotes
business and trade ties with Asia is organising a delegation visit to Malaysia
and Indonesia from Oct 9 to 17.

The group, calling itself the German-Asian Business Circle, popularly known
by its German acronym "DAW", was formed by the honorary consul-general of
Nepal in Frankfurt, Bodo Krueger.

Explaining the purpose of the visit, Alexander Alles of the DAW told Bernama
the organisation provides assistance mainly to small-and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) that have limited resources and not much information about
Asian markets.

A full-day event called "economic dialogue" will be organised for the DAW
delegation at the Matrade headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 13. The speakers
will include Matrade Chairman and local German representatives in Malaysia.

Describing the DAW as a "bridge" between Germany and Asia, Alles said the
organisation provides a "ready platform" for communication between German and
Asian businessmen.

DAW also extends concrete assistance in identifying partners on both sides,
and even provides feasibility studies. Currently, environment technology is the
buzzword in the industry.

Many Asian countries, heavily polluted because of inadequate or no
environmental safeguards, are facing massive erosion of their natural resources
through improper or reckless use of their assets.

German environmentalists have been watching with interest the Malaysian
Government's move to establish the new Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and
Water to help spur industries and institutions to be ecologically conscious and
push innovators in the field of eco-design, eco-materials, eco-products and
services as well as low carbon green technologies.

The delegation's visit to Malaysia comes at an opportune time as the
delegates will also be able to attend the International Greentech and Eco
Products Exhibition and Conference at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre from Oct 14
to 17.

Matrade said the four-day event is expected to attract more than 500
exhibitors' booths showcasing products and services worldwide and over 120,000
visitors.

An added attraction for the delegates will be the International Green
Technology and Purchasing Conference 2010 on Oct 15 and 16. The delegates can
explore for business opportunities.

Besides environmental technology, the delegates will also represent
logistics, plastics, rubber and machine-building industries which are
playing and will continue to play an important role in Malaysia's economy.

DAW said Germany's relations with Asean have been good. While India and
China continue to dominate the media coverage, the DAW has been saying one
should also pay "more attention" to the Asean region.

"Asean is under-reported in the local media," said Alles.

Indeed, the DAW's traditional New Year reception on Feb 22 had a strong
Asean accent. Attended by nearly 1,000 guests from business, politics and
diplomacy, the guest-of-honour at the event was Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the Asean
secretary-general, who flew in especially for the event from Jakarta to
underline the growing importance of the 500 million consumer strong Asean
region.

Asean's recognition of importance has also dawned on other organisations
in Germany which believe that it is myopic to concentrate only on China and
India when talking about Asia.

"Asia is more than China and India . there are other emerging economies such
as the growth-driven Asean markets that cannot be ignored. These markets are as
promising as China and India, if not more," says Rainer Schmidt, a German
management consultant who has deep insights into Asia.
-- BERNAMA