Message from the Ambassador of Malaysia to Japan

I am pleased to be given this opportunity to highlight in the newly-designed ASEAN-Japan Centre's website several notable activities undertaken by the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo in collaboration with the ASEAN-Japan Centre.

The Embassy of Malaysia and the Malaysian agencies based here have established a long-standing and close working relationship with the ASEAN-Japan Centre since the Centre's establishment in 1981 with a view to promoting Malaysia-Japan trade, investment and tourism cooperation as well as enhancing ASEAN-Japan relations as a whole.

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) works closely with the ASEAN-Japan Centre to promote bilateral trade between Japan and Malaysia. MATRADE has been an active participant in the trade exhibitions at the ASEAN-Japan Centre Permanent Exhibition Area as well as in international trade fairs organized throughout Japan. Further, MATRADE conducts annual trade promotional visits to major cities in Japan to further strengthen business relations with local economic bodies and importers and to increase awareness of Malaysian products.

As regards investment promotion, the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) jointly organize trade and investment seminars in Japan with the ASEAN-Japan Centre aimed at disseminating information to Japanese investors about investment and trade opportunities in Malaysia. MIDA and ASEAN-Japan Centre have also co-organized targeted industry missions to Japan and outward missions to Malaysia involving Japanese companies that are interested in investing in Malaysia as well as journalists to observe first-hand the Malaysian investment environment.

On the tourism front, the Tourism Malaysia Tokyo Office has been taking part in the annual Sapporo Snow Festival and ASEAN Tourism Fair. Such participations have contributed to the increase in the number of tourist arrivals into Malaysia in recent years.

I trust you find this new website informative and useful in enhancing your knowledge about Malaysia, ASEAN and the ever-increasing ASEAN-Japan relations.

June 2009