GERMAN DELEGATION IN KL TO EXPLORE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- A German delegation is here until Oct 17
to explore business opportunities and potential partnerships in green
technology.

Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry General Manager Thomas
Brandt said they represented companies involved in the sustainable building and
planning, environmental technologies, biomass energy, manufacturing,
architecture and trading sectors.

"The delegation is led by Senior Officer of the Federal Ministry of
Economics and Technology Germany, Martin Krautkraemer, to assist German small
and medium scale enterprise entrepreneurs find potential business partners
in Malaysia, a market which has remained attractive to the Germans for years,"
he said during a ceremony to welcome the delegates here Thursday.

Brandt said there is a lot of potential in terms of collaboration in the
areas of green technology as this sector will bring tremendous opportunities in
terms of technology sharing and job opportunities.

"Germany is a benchmark for the success story of an emerging greentech
industry which has seen an increase in employment in the greentech sector from
30,000 to 300,000 in less than 10 years," Brandt said.

He said Malaysia needs to be more active in terms of seeking new technology
as it requires companies going to Germany to explore new areas of technology.

The German Feed-in Tariff (FIT) concept, Brandt said, has been emulated by
22 countries around the globe and is likewise currently being implemented in
Malaysia.

In Malaysia, FIT for renewable energies, which enables consumers to sell
excess electricity to the power utility company at a fixed premium,
will be implemented next year.

Malaysia, has its advantage in attracting German companies with
its stable political environment, its proficiency in the English language, good
infrastructure and and an agile government, Krautkraemer said.

For the upcoming budget 2011, Brandt will like to see more more incentives
for the development of SME and facilities to encourage investment in green
technology.

Policies for energy security to meet future energy needs of the country will
be also good, he added.

--BERNAMA