FORMULATE LONG-TERM BUSINESS PLANS WITH JAPAN, SAYS MATRADE

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies need to look at
long-term business plans, encompassing broader perspectives, with Japan, said
the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

Its Chief Executive Officer, Norharuddin Nordin, said there were ample
opportunities for Malaysian businesses to not only fulfill Japan's immediate
demand to rebuild the country, after the recent earthquake and tsunami, but also
to gain greater awareness and exposure in the market.

"Japan is an important market for Malaysia due to stringent standards
imposed on imports and we need to fulfill this requirement in order to enter the
market there."

"It is a good market for us but we need to invest quite a lot in meeting
these standards," he told reporters after opening a seminar on "Export
Opportunities in Post-Tsunami Japan" here Tuesday.

Reflecting on the impact of the earthquake and tsunami, he said Japanese
companies were now restructuring and shifting their production base to other
countries as they felt it was vital to strengthen their businesses abroad.

"This can be seen as an opportunity for us to attract more Japanese
companies to invest here," Norharuddin added.
-- BERNAMA