Greetings from MASSA !

In this August newsletter, we are pleased to bring you a Country Feature on the Federal Republic of Somalia. We thank the good office of Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Malaysia & its Commercial & Industrial Office for this Country Feature. The Country Feature highlights its emerging market potential, and a variety of investment opportunities, among which include the livestock & fishery value chains, and the financial & capital markets.

MASSA is also pleased to have an article from the Cross Border Investment Division, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). This article highlights the Malaysia-Singapore Business Development Fund (MSBDF), administered by MIDA and Enterprise Singapore. It details how Malaysian businesses can access this Fund, together with Singapore counterparts, when exploring business and investment opportunities in third countries.

In the month of June, MASSA organised a Visit to the Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) in conjunction with SHRDC’s Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0 Discovery Day on 11 June, and a Sharing Session on e-Invoicing Implementation at Finexus Campus on 12 June. These meetings were attended by MASSA members and other members of the business community. These sessions aimed to introduce & avail to participants the developments across Smart Factory technology, cost-effective Digital Transformation, Generative AI applications and insights & solutions for the National E-Invoicing Initiative (NEI).

MASSA’s 33^rd Annual General Meeting convened on 24 June 2024. It was hosted by MASSA President, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, at Bangunan AmBank Group. The MASSA 2023/2024 Annual Report can be read here: www.massa.net.my/massa-2023-2024-annual-report/ (or in this issue’s Diary of Events). MASSA was also represented by its members at the Budget 2025 MITI Dialogue Session on 6 August 2024, chaired by YB Senator Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry.

MASSA made Courtesy Calls on H.E. Lisualdo Gaspar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Malaysia on 7 August and also the First Secretary and Head of the Commercial & Industry Office of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Somalia on 14 August wherein MASSA & its representatives were appraised of the latest developments and inbound investment & partnership focuses of the respective countries.

We want to thank our members, ex-officio, contributors, and partners for your support to date. MASSA remains committed to present to members, trade and investment leads from the South-South countries, as well as keep members appraised of the current and future-forward developments in Malaysia, and the region.

In view of this, several events to keep an eye out for are in the works. Do look for our weekly Circulars and postings in our website www.massa.net.my. We look forward to meet members at MASSA’s upcoming events.

This Editorial message would not be complete without the mention of the passing of Tun Michael Chen Wing Sum. Tun Michael was MASSA’s founding Vice President since MASSA’s inception in 1991. We will cherish fondly the memories of his steadfast commitment and untiring efforts to promote the cause of South-South business relations.

Ng Su Fun

Editorial MASSA