Envoys See Expansion In Bilateral Trade & Relations In 2012

By Azzah Mohamad KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- It's the New Year again and most, if not all Malaysians, will have make some kind of New Year resolutions and harbour hopes for a better year. Foreign diplomats in Malaysia, too, have their hopes. Canada's High Commissioner to Malaysia, Randolph Mank, is confident 2012 will see bilateral relations continue to grow along with trade. "Malaysia is among Canada's largest bilateral trading partners in South-East Asia. I hope 2012 will see our trade numbers follow the significant growth in bilateral investment we enjoyed this year," he told Bernama in an e-mail interview on his aspirations for the New Year. Looking back, Mank, who was posted here in 2010, described 2011 as a fruitful year that saw trade with Malaysia totalling RM9 billion. (US$1=RM3.13) "Of course, the biggest investment news of the year was Petronas' historic RM3.3 billion deal with Canada's Progress Energy to develop shale gas deposits in British Columbia," he said. Mank said that there is potential for this investment to grow, and it is a further demonstration of growing links between the two countries. He said Canadian companies such as Talisman, CAE Simulators, SNC Lavalin, Bombardier, Research in Motion and others are positive about Malaysia and have invested almost RM5 billion here, with another RM1.9 billion in the offing. Capping a successful year was the visit of Governor-General David Johnston, his first foreign state visit and the first to Malaysia by a Canadian head of state, Mank said. During his visit, Johnston participated in a roundtable organised by the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT), which brought together Canadian and Malaysian captains of industry, university leaders and innovators. "I think we can expect some tangible results soon. The high commission has already committed to work together with MIGHT to turn these possibilities into reality," Mank said. For the European Union (EU), the first priority for 2012 is to get its economic house back in order, as well as create the basis for renewed economic growth, says Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Malaysia, Vincent Piket. Piket is optimistic the EU is now on the right track, as all its members are making progress on fiscal consolidation and have taken measures to stimulate entrepreneurship, investment and employment. EU countries have also agreed to an EU-wide strategy for growth that is based on innovation, high-technology and environmental sustainability, he said. "Even with our economic problems, the EU remains a tightly-knit union of 27 member states (soon 28), 500 million inhabitants, (making it) the world's largest economy and the world's biggest trading block. "Its inner strength is rock-hard, regardless of the occasional political disputes. "We have had crises before, and we have always emerged stronger and with new energy," Piket said. On bilateral relations, the EU's 2012 goal is to make decisive progress on three major bilateral negotiations -- Partnership and Cooperation Agreement for Political Cooperation, the free trade agreement and Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement for the trade of legal timber. Piket said if the EU continues to work well, all three negotiations could be completed in 2012. "Doing so will bring Malaysia-EU relations to a totally new level, creating new opportunities for cooperation, business and individual citizens on both sides, as well as giving direct support to strategic goals such as Malaysia's target of becoming a developed economy by 2020," he said. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, Masood Khalid, described described 2011 as a significant year in bilateral relations. He said Prime Minister Najib Razak and Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani had the first bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth in October. "During the meeting both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen traditional ties," he said. He said two-way trade was up by over 10 per cent, with greater commercial and economic interaction through exchange of business delegations, investment conferences and participation in trade fairs and exhibitions. Masood said new areas of cooperation, such as halal industry, agriculture, education and sports, witnessed increased activity, and for the first time, Pakistani beef was introduced in the local market. Pakistan also emerged as a major supplier of rice, textiles and livestock to Malaysia, he said. On the maritime front, a Malaysian naval ship participated in the Aman (Peace) naval exercise in Karachi while Pakistan participated in the recent Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. The joint Committee on Defence Cooperation also held its meeting in Kuala Lumpur, he said. He said for 2012, Pakistan intends to build on what it achieved last year. "The exchange of high-level delegations, joint commission meeting, expansion in trade, more educational linkages and people-to-people contacts are on our agenda to take our relationship forward," Masood said. -- BERNAMA Malaysia envoys