On 30 April 2009, the Inaugural MEF-Brussels Spring Roundtable was successfully held at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. The event was organised by the Malaysia-Europe Forum in collaboration with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia with the cooperation of the Embassy of Malaysia in Belgium.
Under the theme "Towards Sustainable Business", the event featured panellists from Malaysia and Europe, covering topics namely on corporate governance, transparency, business ethics and corporate responsibility.
In his opening remark, H.E. Dato? Hussein Haniff, Ambassador of Malaysia to Belgium, highlighted the recent announcements made by YAB Prime Minister of Malaysia on further liberalisation in the financial and services sector. The event proceeded with the keynote address which was delivered by Y.B. Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Advisor and Patron of the Malaysia-Europe Forum (MEF) and former Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia.
The event was well-attended with 60 participants including representation from the Ministry of International Trade Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, Institute of Integrity Malaysia, the Malaysian Timber of Council, London, the various European Commission Directorate-Generals, European Parliament and EU businesses.