ID :
197813
Thu, 07/28/2011 - 09:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/197813
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIAN CONSUL GENERAL IN FRANKFURT BULLISH ABOUT BILATERAL TIES
FRANKFURT, July 28 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian consul general in Frankfurt
is bullish about the development of bilateral German-Malaysian ties.
"Our ties with Germany are good and unproblematic. Although I do not have
the latest trade figures, I am told that trade has increased between the two
countries," John Samuel, Malaysia’s consul general, told Bernama during an
interview in his office in Frankfurt.
Trade and business are the two pillars on which the Malaysian-German edifice
rests.
A "very promising area" for bilateral cooperation is green technology.
There is also considerable interest in the German corporate sector for
cooperation with Malaysia in the field of solar power technology, according to
Samuel.
The Malaysian consul general envisages good potential for cooperation in the
field of education.
Towards this, Germany has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with
leading higher institutions of learning in Malaysia.
This is expected to open up opportunities for Malaysian students to attend
technical studies programmes.
Samuel said Malaysia was also also mulling the idea of benefiting from
Germany’s vocational training system which produces well-qualified technical
personnel in a number of fields.
"We are looking at the German system of vocational training. We are, of
course, not intending to copy the German system but will try to take those
salient features that are suitable and adaptable to Malaysian conditions."
While the German economy has been quite strong for much of the current year,
there are signs now that economic activities may have slowed down
because of a number of factors, one of which, clearly, is the slack experienced
in Germany’s major markets, particularly the USA, and also the fiscal and
economic turmoil in the Eurozone, triggered by the crisis in Greece.
Whether these will have an impact on German-Malaysian trade or on the flow
of German direct investment to Malaysia remains to be seen.
But Germany will have to look at the emerging markets, particularly China
and India, to offload its products.
Asean, including Malaysia, is being eyed for this purpose.
Last year’s trade between Germany and Malaysia touched nearly 10 billion
euros.
Some 300 German companies, according to the German Foreign Office, are
directly represented in Malaysia, with some 70 engaged in production.
Malaysia is also, increasingly, used by German companies as a regional hub
in Southeast Asia and even beyond.
Meanwhile, the visit of either the head of German government or the state to
Malaysia, according to protocol norms, is long overdue after the last visit to
Germany by former Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi in May 2005.
If Chancellor Angela Merkel is unable to visit Malaysia, then a visit by
German President Christian Wulff should be on the cards before the year end.
-- BERNAMA
is bullish about the development of bilateral German-Malaysian ties.
"Our ties with Germany are good and unproblematic. Although I do not have
the latest trade figures, I am told that trade has increased between the two
countries," John Samuel, Malaysia’s consul general, told Bernama during an
interview in his office in Frankfurt.
Trade and business are the two pillars on which the Malaysian-German edifice
rests.
A "very promising area" for bilateral cooperation is green technology.
There is also considerable interest in the German corporate sector for
cooperation with Malaysia in the field of solar power technology, according to
Samuel.
The Malaysian consul general envisages good potential for cooperation in the
field of education.
Towards this, Germany has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with
leading higher institutions of learning in Malaysia.
This is expected to open up opportunities for Malaysian students to attend
technical studies programmes.
Samuel said Malaysia was also also mulling the idea of benefiting from
Germany’s vocational training system which produces well-qualified technical
personnel in a number of fields.
"We are looking at the German system of vocational training. We are, of
course, not intending to copy the German system but will try to take those
salient features that are suitable and adaptable to Malaysian conditions."
While the German economy has been quite strong for much of the current year,
there are signs now that economic activities may have slowed down
because of a number of factors, one of which, clearly, is the slack experienced
in Germany’s major markets, particularly the USA, and also the fiscal and
economic turmoil in the Eurozone, triggered by the crisis in Greece.
Whether these will have an impact on German-Malaysian trade or on the flow
of German direct investment to Malaysia remains to be seen.
But Germany will have to look at the emerging markets, particularly China
and India, to offload its products.
Asean, including Malaysia, is being eyed for this purpose.
Last year’s trade between Germany and Malaysia touched nearly 10 billion
euros.
Some 300 German companies, according to the German Foreign Office, are
directly represented in Malaysia, with some 70 engaged in production.
Malaysia is also, increasingly, used by German companies as a regional hub
in Southeast Asia and even beyond.
Meanwhile, the visit of either the head of German government or the state to
Malaysia, according to protocol norms, is long overdue after the last visit to
Germany by former Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi in May 2005.
If Chancellor Angela Merkel is unable to visit Malaysia, then a visit by
German President Christian Wulff should be on the cards before the year end.
-- BERNAMA
