Date held: 2026/01/29
Date and Time: Thursday, 29 January 2026, 09:00–12:30 (Networking Lunch until 14:00)
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Onsite)
Format: Seminar
Language: English
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/r/1rZwiRk8Tw
Participation Fee: Free of charge (limited slots)
The ASEAN–Japan Centre (AJC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia and JETRO Kuala Lumpur, will host an FTA Promotion Seminar titled “From Agreement to Action: Practical FTA Utilization for Malaysia–Japan Trade.” The seminar targets Malaysian and Japanese export-oriented SMEs seeking to strengthen their practical use of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in bilateral trade.
Introduction
Malaysia and Japan are linked by several key Free Trade Agreements, including the Malaysia–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (MJEPA), the ASEAN–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which together provide preferential market access and tariff reduction opportunities for businesses.
This seminar aims to equip Malaysian and Japanese SMEs with practical tools and know-how to effectively utilize these FTAs in their export and import operations. Through keynote presentations, a hands-on workshop, and company case insights, participants will gain a clearer understanding of tariff reduction schemes, Rules of Origin (RoO), and Certificate of Origin (CoO) procedures, helping businesses translate FTA provisions into concrete trade opportunities.
Participants
Malaysian and Japanese export-oriented SMEs, particularly those involved in Malaysia–Japan trade, as well as relevant trade-support institutions.
Programme Overview (as of January 22, 2026)
| 08:30-09:00 | Registration |
| 09:00-09:15 | Opening Session Remarks from Dr. Sugumari S. Shanmugam, Senior Director of ASEAN Economic Integration, Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia Remarks from Mr. OTSUBO Hisanobu, Director for FTA/EPA Negotiations, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan |
| 09:15-09:55 | Session 1: FTA Frameworks for Malaysia-Japan Trade (i) Trade with Japan: Opportunities and Advantages for Malaysia Speaker: Mr. Mohamed Hafiz Md Shariff, Senior Manager, China, North East Asia, Section, Export Promotion and Market Access Division, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) (ii) Leveraging Free Trade Agreements between Malaysia and Japan Speaker: Mr. Nik Mohd Salihin Nik Mustafa, Principal Assistant Director, Strategic Negotiation Division, MITI |
| 09:55-10:10 | Coffee Break |
| 10:10-11:50 | Session 2: Practical Utilization of FTAs (iii) Current Utilization of FTAs including RCEP, focusing on Malaysia and Japan Trade Speaker: Ms. Kershin Tai, Research Manager/Assistant Director, JETRO KL Office (iv) Utilization of FTAs: Understanding the Rules of Origin and Their Application Procedures Speaker: Mr. Mohamad Naim Othman, Principal Assistant Director, Trade and Industry Support Division, MITI (v) “From Paper to Profit: How our company uses FTAs to expand Malaysia-Japan Trade” Speaker: Ms. Nur Dalilah Abdullah, IMPEX Trade Compliance Manager Exports Business Unit, Malaysia/Singapore, Nestlé Malaysia |
| 11:50-12:25 | A tip for Japan Market Entry and Q&A Moderator: Mr. ISHIDA Yasushi, Assistant Director and Head of Research, Policy and Advocacy, ASEAN-Japan Centre |
| 12:25-12:30 | Closing Message (AJC) |
| 12:30-14:00 | Lunch (networking) |
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact info_rpa@asean.or.jp.
