YAB Prime Minister recently made an inaugural official visit to Myanmar in April 2012 which paved the way for corporate Malaysia to engage with Myanmar. Fresh from this visit, MASSA and The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce And Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) organised a joint Trade and Investment Mission to Yangon from 26 to 30 April 2012. The mission was led by YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Soong Siew Hoong, ACCCIM Executive Adviser and MASSA EXCO Member, and comprised 28 members of ACCCIM and MASSA. The delegation members were briefed at meetings held with The Republic of The Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), Myanmar Industries Association (MIA) and Malaysian-Myanmar Business Council (MMBC). The pace of economic reformation in Myanmar is fast gaining traction and this augurs well for business and investments. We thank YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Soong Siew Hoong for his untiring efforts in leading the mission. YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Soong is also the economic advisor to UMFCCI and has been regularly sharing his time, expertise and resources to uplift the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Myanmar.

MASSA in the first quarter of 2012, also received two delegations: one led by the Hon. Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia and the other led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia.

In this edition, we also feature a write-up on the Malaysia-Cambodia Business Council (MCBC), led by YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Ramli Kushairi who is also MASSA’s EXCO member. Cambodia is an emerging country in ASEAN which offers interesting trade and investment prospects and opportunities for the Malaysian business community.

We also feature an article from the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council. Malaysian private healthcare service providers in Malaysia offer quality and affordable medical treatments in Malaysia which meet the highest standards of quality and patient care. A total of 63 Malaysian private hospitals are participating in what is termed as “health tourism” – a burgeoning sector, offering state-of-the-art services and the opportunity to combine one’s treatment with a holiday!

We would like to thank all our contributors and especially YBhg Datuk Dr. Rebecca Sta Maria, Secretary-General of MITI for her informative article on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

Fatimah Sulaiman
Editor