Call on South Australian Businesses to Focus on Malaysia

By Neville DCruz ADELAIDE, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- South Australian (SA) businesses should focus on Malaysia as it is the gateway to ASEAN and other Asian countries with huge population, economic growth as well as proximity to Australia. Australia Malaysia Business Council in SA President Sathish Desan said Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were doing business worth A$750 million here and provided thousands of jobs since 1980s. "The Malaysian business community in SA has played a robust role in boosting bilateral trade but much more can be achieved. "I was delighted when Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed told me that he was keen to lead a trade delegation to SA in 2016. "This is a tremendous news and augurs well for SA in respect to international trade and investment," Sathish said at a gala dinner to celebrate Malaysia's 58th National Day here Monday. Sathish said the recent SA trade mission to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand led by SA Premier Jay Weatherill and Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith identified trade sectors in the three countries which SA could explore and expand. "SA exports about A$1 billion worth of goods and services to Malaysia. Changes to the tariff regime in Malaysia arising from the Free Trade Agreement signed early last year provide immense opportunities for SA's milk, wine, cheese and livestock industries," he said. Meanwhile, Hamilton-Smith said South Australia would play a key role in Malaysia's energy sector. "Gas from our Cooper Basin will supply 11 per cent of Malaysia's gas needs when the Santos GLNG starts shipping cargoes in the coming months. "The multi-billion dollar GLNG project is a great example of cooperation between South Australia's Santos and Malaysia's Petronas," he said. Also present were SA Governor Hieu Van Le, Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia Zainal Abidin Ahmad, the Lord Mayor of Adelaide Martin Haese, and former SA governor Sir Eric Neal. -- BERNAMA