ASEAN Consuls General in Vancouver (ACGV) participated at the Luncheon Talk on ASEAN Canada Business Partnership.
In 2007, Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrate 30 years of partnership and cooperation. Group Comox CanadAsia Business Society along with Richmond Chamber of Commerce has invited the 5 Consuls General of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand based in Vancouver to speak at a Luncheon on Tuesday, 6 June 2007 with a theme – ASEAN Canada Business Partnership.
The event was held at the Best Western Richmond Hotel in the City of Richmond and about 70 members of Comox Canad Asia Business Society and Richmond Chamber of Commerce were present.
The Consul General of Malaysia presented a power point presentation on Trade and Investment Opportunities in Malaysia particularly in the Manufacturing and Services sector. He took the opportunity to urge BC entrepreneurs and investors to seize the opportunities of the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) in Malaysia. [Close to Singapore, it is more than twice the size of the island state and has already attracted more than US$ 5 billion through public-private partnerships and other non-governmental organizations. The investors will be offered corporate tax exemption, free-flow of capital and labor and freehold status for office and residential property in the master real estate development. For those who are interested on getting further information on IDR may log on at http://www.irda.com.my/.]
NOTE:
ASEAN comprises of 10 countries making up the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN region has a land mass of 4.5 million square kilometers with significant natural resources. There are virtually all kinds of goods & services reflecting the different stages of economic development throughout the region from sophisticated technology to basic infrastructure development. Home to over 550 million people, ASEAN has a combined GDP of over $990 billion, with 5% annual growth. More than one million Canadians have roots in the region, some 300,000 Canadians travel there each year, and over 2000 Southeast Asian students study at Canadian universities.
ASEAN is Canada's seventh largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at $12 billion and Canadian direct investment in the region at some $9 billion. Canada has also contributed over $3.5 billion in development assistance to the region since 1977.
