Malaysia Will Continue To Be A Significant Trading Partner To Denmark -- Ambassador

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will continue to be Denmark’s significant trading partner in this region and both nations can work together to further diversify their business relations in the future. Denmark’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Kirsten Geelan, said healthcare is one of the potential sector. “Another potential is health system where there are huge potential for future collaboration with Malaysia,” she said in a webinar titled ‘Denmark and the EU (European Union)’ from here, Wednesday. The ‘Ambassador Lecture Series’ was organised by University of Malaya’s Asia-Europe Institute. She said there are currently more than 50 Danish companies in Malaysia, ranging from food industry and transportation to information technology, energy, manufacturing and green technology and solutions. Among the Danish companies in Malaysia are Arla, Sunquick, Maersk, DSV Rockwool, novo nordisk, novozymes, AVK, United Plantations Berhad, Dong Energy and uhrenholt. “Many have their regional headquarters here due to Malaysia’s strategic location, its conducive business environment, and the diversity,” she said. According to Geelan, export from Denmark to Malaysia for the year 2019 amounted to RM1.1 billion for goods and services respectively, while Malaysia exported RM1 billion worth of goods and another RM1.2 billion in services to Denmark in the same year. To another question, the Ambassador, who took up her role here in September 2020, said there had been no immediate impacts on Danish businesses’ operations in Malaysia due to the Proclamation of Emergency imposed by Malaysian government early this year. She noted that Danish businesses have also had to keep updated and adjust to the changing rules and regulations on standard operating procedures following the various stages of movement control orders put in place by the Malaysian government to curb the spread of COVID-19. “The role played by the EU and the EU Chamber of Commerce had been instrumental in engaging Danish businesses with these difficult challenges. “We just have to accept that this is a challenging time and the pandemic is affecting everyone, including the business community,” she said. On the closure of the Royal Danish Embassy in Malaysia by the end of this year, she assured that Denmark will continue to work for Danish companies and interests in Malaysia. “The engagements and the relationship will continue,” she said. Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod in September last year had announced that the Danish Embassy in Malaysia will be closed later in 2021 as part of the ongoing adjustment of Denmark’s international presence. After the closure, Malaysia-Denmark bilateral and commercial relations will be handled by the Danish embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia. Geelan added that her colleagues in Jakarta will also be helped by a network of honorary consuls based in Malaysia to assist Danish interests and Danish businesses with Malaysia. The Embassy of Denmark was established opened in Kuala Lumpur in 1963. It is currently located at Sunway Tower in Jalan Ampang. -- BERNAMA