In this edition, we wish to take this opportunity to express our thanks to the following people and organisations for their respective contributions and efforts in trying to strengthen and enhance the South-South platform:

1. YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Soong Siew Hoong for leading a joint ACCCIM and MASSA Business Mission to Vientiane, Laos from 10 – 13 December 2012. 24 Malaysian members were warmly welcomed at all the receptions and meetings with the Laotian Government officials which include the Deputy Prime Minister and the local business community. Our members found the country very conducive to business and foreign investments;
2. H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Than Tai Hing, the Malaysia Ambassador to Laos and also H.E. Ambassador Khamphan Anlavan, the Ambassador of Laos to Malaysia for their counsel, guidance, advice and presence during the delegation’s time in Vientiane, Laos;
3. MITI and MATRADE for their articles on ASEAN: Deepening Regional Integration and the Market Development Grant (MDG) update respectively. We encourage all members to stay in touch with and keep abreast of the various initiatives, progress and offerings by MITI and its various agencies for further business opportunities. The ongoing regional integration within ASEAN affords us a much bigger market on a wider platform but also more competition; and
4. to all our members, associates and sponsors for assisting us in the successful publication of this newsletter. We want to continue the close relationship with all of you so that together we can further strengthen and enhance the South-South platform.

In the coming new year, we are pleased to inform that the MASSA Executive Committee has given its support for the organisation of business missions to Timor Leste and selected CIS countries. MASSA will also be supporting the Showcase Malaysia event held for the third time in Dhaka, Bangladesh in May 2013. We welcome all members’ support and participation in these events.

In ushering in the year 2013, we in the editorial team wish all members and readers a very “Happy New Year’’.

Fatimah Sulaiman
Editor