The Private Sector dialogue with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wajed was well attended by the Malaysian business leaders. The lively exchange of Questions and Answers revealed that there were ample business opportunities in many sectors in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is certainly on the investment and business radar of our Malaysian companies. H.E. Sheikh Hasina Wajed gave her Government’s assurance to assist and expedite the realisation of Malaysian investments in her country which has a population of 150 million. Members are encouraged to look more closely at this burgeoning market. The Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce Industry (BMCCI) is ready to assist our members to make any significant inroads.

In this edition, we also feature Zambia. The untiring efforts of YBhg Dato’ J. Jegathesan, MASSA’s EXCO member who is currently the Senior Economic Advisor for JICA and Government of Zambia, have yielded much fruit in bringing Malaysian investments to Zambia. The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Finance and National Planning of Zambia, the Honourable David Phiri led a delegation of Government officials to Malaysia to meet potential Malaysian investors on 26 July 2010. The Honourable Deputy Minister also called on YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MASSA at his office. We wish to also acknowledge with thanks the article on Zambia contributed by His Excellency, Anderson K. Chibwa, the High Commissioner of Zambia to Malaysia.

We are pleased to welcome the article from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Malaysia. We look forward to feature more articles especially the Ministry’s programmes in support of the initiatives to “Go Green”. Malaysian companies are well placed to tap on the emerging business opportunities in this new sector and even take it cross border to the countries of the South.

To the new members of MASSA, we wish to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to each of them. We look forward to all our members’ active participation in MASSA’s activities, programmes and to use this platform to maximise their south-south connections.

Last but not least, allow me to use this occasion to wish all our Muslim members and friends, “Selamat Berpuasa” and “Salam Aidil Fitri”.

Fatimah Sulaiman
Editor

Forthcoming Events

1. Intrade Malaysia 2010 at MECC, Kuala Lumpur, 9 – 11 November 2010.
2. Global Expo Botswana (2010), 17 – 20 November 2010.