Greetings from MASSA!  The 1^st quarter of 2016 is behind us.  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently announced that Malaysia’s economy is still robust and is projected to grow at 4.4% this year underpinned by strong domestic demand against a backdrop of supportive monetary policies.  On the global scene, the economic and financial volatilities that reverberate across the regions can and will affect Malaysia and the economies in which we operate in.  Hence, we need to stay vigilant and alert and keep abreast of economic developments.  

In this edition, I am pleased to bring to members and readers, a message from MATRADE’s Trade Commissioner based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  Mr Faizal Izany Mastor gives a detailed account of the economy and business potential in this burgeoning country of more than 90 million people.  Once an “Asian Tiger”, today Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, the business commercial capital is a melting pot of business and cultures. 

Continuing with our efforts to focus on SME development, we bring you an article from SME Corp. Malaysia on various programmes and schemes to enhance the capabilities of SMEs through business advisory and financial support. Their wide range of capability building initiatives can assist SMEs to grow and to expand beyond our shores.

MASSA also has a close collaboration with Expertise Resource Association (ERA). ERA is an association formed in 1986 and is a non-profit organization that assembles a rich pool of well-qualified and professionally certified individuals from various industrial and business sectors.   The expertise, knowledge and capabilities of the members’ combined are a much valuable resource that can be tapped.

MASSA had visitors in 1Q2016. H.E. Ambassador of Peru to Malaysia called on Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MASSA, while the new President of BMCCI and his colleagues called on MASSA.  MASSA’s collaboration with ASEACC based in Singapore, brought a West  African Ports and Logistics delegation to Kuala Lumpur in March 2016.

MASSA wish to thank MATRADE for the excellent cooperation and support. The CEO of MATRADE, Dato’ Dzulkifli Mahmud and his team called on MASSA’s President on 11 March 2016 to cement the close cooperation to work on joint programmes and outreach missions to the developing countries.

Please keep a look out for our weekly circulars to get the latest events and programmes. We encourage your participation.

We in the editorial team take this opportunity to thank all our members, associates, sponsors and contributors for assisting us in the publication of our E-Newsletter. We value your support and contribution.