Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Greetings from MASSA!  This August 2014 edition brings you feature articles contributed by MATRADE’s Trade Commissioner in Santiago,Chile, GS1 Malaysia under the aegis of Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), as well as an article from MyIPO, Malaysia’s Intellectual Property Corporation.

GS1 System is a global system that provides for the identification and communication of goods, services and location based on internationally accepted and business led standards.  The system provides a means by which a common language is used to accurately and speedily communicate trading information across the supply chain to any industry in any part of the world.  

MyIPO is an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism and is responsible for the development and administration of intellectual property rights (IPR) system in Malaysia. 

Our Trade Commissioner in Santiago gives us the latest updates on trending business developments in Chile.

We urge members to keep abreast of these new and emerging developments that can/may have beneficial impact to your respective businesses.

MASSA had a few visitors in second quarter of 2014.  Amongst them include, a delegation from West African Ports, officials from the Department of Trade & Industry from the Republic of South Africa and also an Ethiopian Government delegation on a study tour of Malaysia to learn about export promotion strategies.

As members are aware, MASSA is co-organising a business mission to Timor-Leste with The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), to be led by Tan Sri Dato’ Soong Siew Hoong who is MASSA’s EXCO member and Executive Adviser to ACCCIM.  The mission will take place from 6 to 10 October 2014. The organising committee had a timely meeting with officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment of Timor-Leste led by Mr Marcio Rosa Lay, to better plan and prepare for the upcoming mission.  We urge members to join the mission and explore the green field projects in sectors that include infrastructure, oil & gas, healthcare, mining, tourism, agriculture and manufacturing in this young nation.

Members are also requested to keep in view upcoming activities in the fourth quarter of 2014 which include the Showcase Bangladesh 2014 that will take place at KLCC from 14 to 16 November 2014.  INTRADE Malaysia 2014 will be held on 20 to 22 October 2014.

We look forward to members’ participation in these events.

Fatimah Sulaiman
Editor