ID :
188647
Wed, 06/15/2011 - 06:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/188647
The shortlink copeid
NEED FOR ENHANCED EFFORTS TO TAP AFRICAN MARKET
Africa has seen what can be termed as an "economic resurgence" over the past decade, and, for this reason, Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay said Malaysian businessmen should enhance efforts to tap the African market.
In this connection, he said the Malaysia-Africa Business Forum to be held on Saturday in conjunction with the Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) 2011 would provide the platform for increased trade and investment between both sides.
He reckoned that the convening of previous LIDs had proven to be a success in terms of increasing trade activities between Malaysian and African partners.
"For 2010 alone, the total trade figure was RM25 billion, an increase of 39 per cent over 2009," he told Bernama ahead of LID 2011.
Kohilan pointed out that between 2001 and 2010, growth of gross domestic product (GDP) on the vast continent averaged 5.2 per cent annually, a rate which can also be expected in 2011.
The figure was higher than the global GDP rate of 4.2 per cent.
The deputy minister said the theme of the forum "Exploring New Dimensions", reflected the importance of exploring new business and investment opportunities between Malaysia and Africa.
Kohilan noted that one of the objectives of LID 2011 was to expand existing social and economic networks between Malaysia and the participating countries.
"Malaysia believes that by sharing its transformation programme, among others, this would lead to deliberations of new and innovative ideas on transformation and provide new opportunities for both Malaysia and African countries," he said.
He reckoned that certain African countries had modelled their development visions based on Malaysia's Vision 2020 which outlines the path for the country to join the ranks of the world's developed nations.
Besides trade, Malaysia and Africa had joined hands in the field of
education, he added.
In this connection, he said the Malaysia-Africa Business Forum to be held on Saturday in conjunction with the Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) 2011 would provide the platform for increased trade and investment between both sides.
He reckoned that the convening of previous LIDs had proven to be a success in terms of increasing trade activities between Malaysian and African partners.
"For 2010 alone, the total trade figure was RM25 billion, an increase of 39 per cent over 2009," he told Bernama ahead of LID 2011.
Kohilan pointed out that between 2001 and 2010, growth of gross domestic product (GDP) on the vast continent averaged 5.2 per cent annually, a rate which can also be expected in 2011.
The figure was higher than the global GDP rate of 4.2 per cent.
The deputy minister said the theme of the forum "Exploring New Dimensions", reflected the importance of exploring new business and investment opportunities between Malaysia and Africa.
Kohilan noted that one of the objectives of LID 2011 was to expand existing social and economic networks between Malaysia and the participating countries.
"Malaysia believes that by sharing its transformation programme, among others, this would lead to deliberations of new and innovative ideas on transformation and provide new opportunities for both Malaysia and African countries," he said.
He reckoned that certain African countries had modelled their development visions based on Malaysia's Vision 2020 which outlines the path for the country to join the ranks of the world's developed nations.
Besides trade, Malaysia and Africa had joined hands in the field of
education, he added.
