1) BMCCI Webinar: “Bangladesh-Malaysia FTA: Challenges & Opportunities for Business Community” held on 26th May 2021 Via Zoom

The Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and industry (BMCCI) on 26^th May 2021 over Zoom organised a webinar titled “Bangladesh-Malaysia FTA: Challenges and Opportunities for Business Community”. Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary represented MASSA as an invited discussant on the panel of discussants and opinion leaders.

The webinar was also graced by Chief Guest, H.E. Tipu Munshi, M.P. Honorable Minister, Ministry of Commerce, Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh, and Guests of Honor, H.E. Md. Golam Sarwar, High Commissioner, Bangladesh High Commission to Malaysia and H.E. Haznah Md. Hashim, High Commissioner, High Commission of Malaysia to Bangladesh.

This webinar was organised with the aim to discuss the effectiveness of a free trade agreement (FTA) in unlocking international business opportunities between Bangladesh and Malaysia by taking an institutional perspective in explaining the existence and effects of non-tariff barriers and how the FTA can address these barriers to attract investors.

The webinar programme was as follows:

The full recording of the webinar can be viewed on the BMCCI Facebook Page from the following link: https://fb.watch/5JO5IluqIs/.

The webinar began with a welcoming address from Chairperson & Moderator,  Mr Raquib Mohammad Fakhrul Rocky (pic below), President of BMCCI.

Dr Mostafa Abid Khan (pic below), Member, Bangladesh Trade & Tariff Commission, Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh presented a keynote paper on “Bangladesh-Malaysia FTA: Challenges and Opportunities for Business Community”. His keynote touched on the following items:

– A comparison of key indicators between Bangladesh and Malaysia

– The trade policies of the nations

– Trade performance of Bangladesh and Malaysia

– Bilateral economic relations between Malaysia and Bangladesh

– The challenges and opportunities of a bilateral FTA

Following that a panel discussion amongst the discussants / opinion leaders.

From left to right:

Mr Amri Bukhairi Bakhtiar, Director, Strategic Negotiation Division, Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia

Mr Noor Md. Mahbubul Haq, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh

Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, Malaysia South-South Association (MASSA)

Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)

From left to right:

Mr Md. Saiful Islam, Senior Reporter, The Financial Express

Mr Syed Moazzam Hossain, Former President, BMCCI

Dr Sabrina, Chairperson, SVC Jhilmil Residential BD. Ltd.

Mr Abrar Anwar, Managing Director & CEO, Standard Chartered Malaysia

After the Question & Answer session following the panel discussion the Guests of Honor and the Chief Guest gave their remarks.

Guest of Honor, H.E. Md. Golam Sarwar, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia

Guest of Honor, H.E. Haznah Md Hashim, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh

Chief Guest, H.E. Tipu Munshi, M.P., Honorable Minister, Ministry of Commerce,
Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh

The webinar came to a close with the concluding remarks delivered by Mr Md. Anwar Shahid (pic below), Vice-President, BMCCI & Convener of Trade & Investment, Steering Committee.

MASSA would like to thank the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and industry (BMCCI) for organised and inviting MASSA and its members to participate in this webinar. MASSA congratulates BMCCI’s role in promoting and facilitating the bilateral business and investment flows over the years.

Below are a few group photos of panelists and participants:

2) Online Round Table Discussion on “Connecting to the African Market  – Mauritius Your Investment Destination” held on 2 June 2021 via Microsoft Teams

The Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) of Malaysia organised an online Round Table Discussion on “Connecting to the African Market – Mauritius Your Investment Destination” on 2^nd June 2021. Members of MASSA and the MASSA secretariat attended this event.

The Online Round Table Discussion was graced by H.E. Mr. Jagdishwar Goburdhun, G.O.S.K., High Commissioner of Mauritius to Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai, President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, Mr Geerish Bucktowonsing, Director of Industry, Economic Development Board (EDB) and Ms Rooma Pillay Narrainen, Manager – Trade Division, Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This Round Table Discussion was organised with the aim to discuss potential and opportunities available in Mauritius for a variety of Malaysian businesses and investments. Mauritius is seeking to widen and deepen good economic relations with Malaysia through the import-export sector as well as tech transfer, training and upskilling of Mauritian talents in Malaysia and establishing Malaysian manufacturing operations with local business partners.

Mauritius can be a key trade and investment partner for Malaysia, targeting the 1.3 billion market in the African continent. Mauritius is naturally and strategically situated in the Indian Ocean and had ratified a number of FTAs across Africa as well as signed FTAs with India and China.

Trade Agreements Network between Mauritius and other regions and countries.

This gives Mauritius and its business affiliates access to almost 70% of the world population as potential markets. Besides that, the Mauritian government has proven to maintain political peace and stability, nurturing the growth of Mauritian enterprises and leading markets across Africa. The government is investing heavily in infrastructure, telecommunications and improving public facilities. The private sector also enjoys good cooperation with the government, further boosting the nation’s economic trajectory.

The webinar programme was as follows:

(Clockwise, from top left)
Mr Geerish Bucktowonsing, Mr Vikash Ramdin, Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai, H.E. Mr. Jagdishwar Goburdhun

Mr Geerish Bucktowonsing, Director of Industry, Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius presented on “Connecting to the African Market: Mauritius Your Investment Destination”. His presentation highlighted the following items:

Mauritius: International Accolades

Mauritius: Preferential Markets

Mauritius: Manufacturing Sector at a Glance (2020)

Mauritius: Platform for High Value-Added Manufacturing

New Business Opportunities in Mauritius

Trade Incentives Offered in Mauritius

Investment Incentives for the Manufacturing Sector in Mauritius

Ms Rooma Pillay Narrainen, Manager – Trade Division, Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented on “Preferential Rules of Origion: Exports to Africa”.

The highlights of her presentation can be seen from the diagrams and charts below:

Existing Trade Agreement between Mauritius and Africa

Rules of Origin may differ depending on different trade agreements. Hence, Rules of Origin differs for COMESA, SADC and ACFTA. More information may be obtained from: https://www.mcci.org/

Mauritius Current Exports to Africa

MASSA would like to thank the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Mauritius and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) of Malaysia for organising and inviting MASSA and its members to participate in this Online Round Table Discussion. MASSA congratulates EDB and FMM’s role in promoting and expanding bilateral business and investment opportunities between Malaysia and Mauritius as well as the African continent.

Sources:

3) Showcase Bangladesh: 2021 Bangladesh-Malaysia Investment Summit held on 2 June 2021 via Zoom

Standard Chartered Malaysia jointly hosted a virtual forum titled ‘Showcase Bangladesh: 2021 Bangladesh-Malaysia Investment Summit‘ alongside the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) on 2 June 2021.

The webinar began with a promotional video highlighting the investment outlook for Bangladesh prepared by BIDA.

Welcome Address:

From left to right: – Mr Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh– Mr Abrar Anwar, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Malaysia

Keynote Presenters:

Chief Guest, H.E. Tipu Munshi, Honourable Minister of Commerce of Bangladesh

Mr Md Sirazul Islam, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority

Special Guest, Mr Salman Fazlur Rahman, Honourable Private Sector Industry & Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister delivered a speech after the panel discussion.

Panel Discussion:

From left to right:

1. Panel Moderator, Mr Ifrad Chowdhury

2. H.E. Mr Md Golam Sarwar, High Commissioner of People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Malaysia

3. H.E. Haznah Md Hashim, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bangladesh

4. Mr Mahtab Uddin Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer, Robi Axiata

5. Ms Rupali Chowdhury, President, Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry

6. Mr Mak Joon Nien, Head of Client Coverage, Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking, Standard Chartered Malaysia

The webinar concluded with concluding remarks from Mr Enamul Huque, Head of Global Banking, Standard Chartered Bangladesh who thanked the role-players for sharing their insights.

The webinar highlighted the opportunities and incentives available for investment with Bangladesh. The Government of Bangladesh and its agencies shared their commitment to improve the business environment and increase trade flows, through reforms from a legal standpoint and in the equity markets.

Group photos of the role-players are as follows:

4) 30th Annual General Meeting of MASSA held on 23 June 2021

Tan Sri Azman Hashim (pic below), President of MASSA convened the Thirtieth (30th) Annual General Meeting (AGM) of MASSA at the Boardroom, 26th Floor, Bangunan Ambank Group, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur over Zoom video-conference in compliance with the prevailing SOPs and directives in place to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tan Sri Azman Hashim delivered his address and the meeting proceeded to unanimously adopt the Annual Report and the audited accounts of the Association for the year ended 31^st December 2020. You can read the MASSA Annual Report 2020 – 2021 here: http://www.massa.net.my/massa-annual-report-2020-2021/. The President thanked the Executive Committee and Office Bearers for their continuing support and MASSA members for their participation in MASSA events and activities.

The following were elected to the Executive Committee of MASSA for the new term 2021 – 2023:

Office Bearers: 
President: YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim
Vice-President (i): YABhg Tun Michael Chen Wing Sum
Vice-President (ii): YBhg Datuk Lim Fung Chee
Honorary Secretary: YBhg Datuk Lee Teck Yuen
Honorary Treasurer: YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Tee Hock Seng, JP
Honorary Assistant Secretary: YBhg Dato’ Lawrence Lim Swee Lin

Executive Committee Members: 
– YBhg Tan Sri Ghazzali Sheikh Abdul Khalid
– YBhg Dato’ J Jegathesan
– YBhg Dato’ Tan Kia Loke
– Mr Alagasan Gadigaselam
– YBhg Datuk Merlyn Kasimir
– YBhg Dato’ Shahrul Nazri Dato’ Abdul Rahim
– YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Vincent Tan
– YBhg Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad bin Mohd Kenali 

Tan Sri Azman Hashim, Chairman, congratulated the newly-elected Office Bearers and Executive Committee members on their appointment.

Some photos of the meeting proceedings can be found below:

Datuk T Y Lee, Honorary Secretary

Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad bin Mohd Kenali, Member of Executive Committee

En Mansor Shah Wahid, Ex-Officio, MATRADE

A virtual group photo of the attendees was taken at the end.

A virtual group photo of the attendees was taken at the end.

On behalf of the President, MASSA thanks its members and ex-officio for their participation at its 30th Annual General Meeting.

5) Zoom Meeting with H.E. Diego Velasco, Ambassador of Chile to Malaysia on 24 June 2021

H.E. Diego Velasco, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Chile to Malaysia, and Sr Eduardo Callejas M., Counsellor had a virtual meeting with MASSA Secretariat (and MASSCORP) on 24 June 2021. Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MASSA, Mr Samuel Loh and members of the MASSA Secretariat met with His Excellency to discuss on potential joint collaborations for MASSA members.

(left to right) Ms Ng Su Fun, Mr Samuel Loh, H.E. Diego Velasco and Sr Eduardo Callejas