ID :
51570
Fri, 03/20/2009 - 21:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/51570
The shortlink copeid
USE MALAYSIA AS GATEWAY, JAPANESS FIRMS TOLD
By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) -- Japanese motor vehicle and car parts
makers are urged to team up with their Malaysian counterparts and use Malaysia
as a gateway to penetrate the Asean, Middle East and African markets including
Tanzania and Uganda.
Japan External Trade Organisation's (Jetro) Trade Fair Department adviser,
Hiro Kanda, said those markets offered vast opportunities for both to tap,
particularly in the wake of the global economic downturn.
He said the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), which has a
population of over 500 million, was still the best market for the Japanese to
tap.
Kanda, who hails from Kyoto, said Malaysia may be a small market but by
working together they would be able to expand their businesses
"Being an Islamic country, Malaysia has strong ties with most of the Middle
East countries compare to Japan.
"I hope the Japanese car and parts manufacturers can cooperate with their
Malaysian counterparts to develop the Asean and the Middle East markets," he
told Bernama at the recently-concluded Malaysian Auto Exhibition in Tokyo.
The event, which was held concurrently with the 8th International Auto
Aftermarket Expo 2009, aimed to expose the Malaysian car industry players to
their Japanese counterparts.
Jetro, in cooperation with Malaysia External Trade Development Corp, is
helping Malaysian parts makers forge partnerships with Japanese firms.
The Malaysian makers of rubber and plastic parts, fans, shock absorbers and
batteries, together with Proton Holdings Bhd, were invited by Jetro to showcase
their products and services.
Kanda, who had served Jetro for 38 years, proposed that the Malaysian firms
incorporate Japanese technology in their products for the export market.
He was appointed adviser to the department after his retirement from Jetro
three years ago.
"Malaysia is the first overseas country I visited. It was in 1974, when we
had Japan-Malaysia Trade Fair in Kuala Lumpur," he said.
Kanda said it was also in that year that Panasonic started to produce
air-conditioners and colour television sets in Malaysia.
Since then, he said, the Japanese investments in Malaysia had increased.
He said he revisited Kuala Lumpur after his retirement in 2006.
"I was amazed how Malaysia has developed within 20 to 30 years.
"This time around I was involved in this programme (the exhibition), I am
really surprised that Malaysian companies can produce car parts and cars and
have been exporting the vehicles to several countries in the world," he said.
On the expo, Kanda said the programme, under the Malaysia Automotive
Industry Cooperation (MAJAICO Project), which was part of the Economic
Partnership Agreement between Japan and Malaysia sealed in July 2006, would last
another two years.
"We hope more Malaysians will participate in future expos and get potential
buyers and find good partners," he said.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) -- Japanese motor vehicle and car parts
makers are urged to team up with their Malaysian counterparts and use Malaysia
as a gateway to penetrate the Asean, Middle East and African markets including
Tanzania and Uganda.
Japan External Trade Organisation's (Jetro) Trade Fair Department adviser,
Hiro Kanda, said those markets offered vast opportunities for both to tap,
particularly in the wake of the global economic downturn.
He said the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), which has a
population of over 500 million, was still the best market for the Japanese to
tap.
Kanda, who hails from Kyoto, said Malaysia may be a small market but by
working together they would be able to expand their businesses
"Being an Islamic country, Malaysia has strong ties with most of the Middle
East countries compare to Japan.
"I hope the Japanese car and parts manufacturers can cooperate with their
Malaysian counterparts to develop the Asean and the Middle East markets," he
told Bernama at the recently-concluded Malaysian Auto Exhibition in Tokyo.
The event, which was held concurrently with the 8th International Auto
Aftermarket Expo 2009, aimed to expose the Malaysian car industry players to
their Japanese counterparts.
Jetro, in cooperation with Malaysia External Trade Development Corp, is
helping Malaysian parts makers forge partnerships with Japanese firms.
The Malaysian makers of rubber and plastic parts, fans, shock absorbers and
batteries, together with Proton Holdings Bhd, were invited by Jetro to showcase
their products and services.
Kanda, who had served Jetro for 38 years, proposed that the Malaysian firms
incorporate Japanese technology in their products for the export market.
He was appointed adviser to the department after his retirement from Jetro
three years ago.
"Malaysia is the first overseas country I visited. It was in 1974, when we
had Japan-Malaysia Trade Fair in Kuala Lumpur," he said.
Kanda said it was also in that year that Panasonic started to produce
air-conditioners and colour television sets in Malaysia.
Since then, he said, the Japanese investments in Malaysia had increased.
He said he revisited Kuala Lumpur after his retirement in 2006.
"I was amazed how Malaysia has developed within 20 to 30 years.
"This time around I was involved in this programme (the exhibition), I am
really surprised that Malaysian companies can produce car parts and cars and
have been exporting the vehicles to several countries in the world," he said.
On the expo, Kanda said the programme, under the Malaysia Automotive
Industry Cooperation (MAJAICO Project), which was part of the Economic
Partnership Agreement between Japan and Malaysia sealed in July 2006, would last
another two years.
"We hope more Malaysians will participate in future expos and get potential
buyers and find good partners," he said.
-- BERNAMA
