Continuing with our series on Free Trade Agreements (FTA), we wish to acknowledge and thank Datuk Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, Secretary General of the Ministry of International Trade & Industry for yet another article in this series. The ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) signed in 2004 was ASEAN’s first free trade agreement and it marked a major milestone in ASEAN-China Economic Relations. Trade in goods expanded exponentially as the issue on tariffs was no longer a hindrance. Trade in services was also given a boost with the signing of the ASEAN-China Trade In Services Agreement in 2007. Additionally, 2009 saw the inking of the ASEAN-China Investment Agreement that paved the way for Chinese FDIs to flow to ASEAN and vice versa.

Complementing this article, we present readers with information on Changshu City in Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China. This is an emerging city that is logistically well connected and endowed with natural resources and competitive labour resources that can provide a launchpad for Malaysian enterprises that wish to penetrate the growing and affluent Chinese market. The ASEAN-China SME Trade Center (CASMETC), developed by the Low Yat Group, is also located in Changshu and offers business enterprises the facilitation they need to launch their presence in China.

MATRADE has acknowledged that second-tier cities in China account for 51.3% of China’s global imports. Malaysia’s trade with China grew 13.9% to RM166.86 billion in 2011 compared to 2010. A trade surplus amounting to RM15.63 billion was recorded last year. These statistics say a lot and we encourage members not to overlook China and to certainly consider Changshu and CASMETC as their possible launchpad.

We also give members an account of Showcase Bangladesh 2012 that was successfully held in July 2012. MASSA continues to stay engaged with Myanmar and we will endeavour to provide continuous updates on the trends and economic outlook unfolding in this emerging economy.

The Editorial Committee would also like to take this opportunity to wish all MASSA members and readers “Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri” and “Maaf Zahir Batin”.

Fatimah Sulaiman
Editor