FTA Between Malaysia and Chile
The second round negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and Chile was successfully concluded on 23-24 October recently. The first round was held in Kuala Lumpur on 4-5 June 2007.
The 30 member Malaysian delegation was led by En Abdul Ghafar Musa, Senior Director from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). Apart from MITI, the delegation comprised, among others, representatives from Ministry of Finance, Attorney General?s Chambers, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro- based Industry, Ministry of Plantation, Industries and Commodities, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Royal Malaysian Customs, Department of Standards Malaysia, Malaysia Industrial Development Authority, and Small and Medium Industries Corporation (SMIDEC). The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs was represented by the Deputy Secretary General YBhg. Dato' Mohamedsha Mislam. Khazanah Nasional Berhad, a Government Link Company was also represented. Ambassador Abdullah Faiz Zain also participated in the negotiation.
The leader of the Chilean delegation was Mr. Andres Rebolledo, Director of Bilateral Economic Affairs, General Directorate of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DIRECON). Mr. Rebolledo also led the Chilean delegation for the first round of FTA negotiations in Kuala Lumpur last June. Chile was also represented by other representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, Customs Department, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Labour.
Amongst the issues discussed were Trade in Goods, Investment and Services, Legal Issues and Trade Remedies, and Cooperation.
The Meeting was conducted in a cordial and friendly manner and much progress have taken place during the two days of discussions.
Both parties agreed to hold the next round of negotiations in March 2008 at a venue to be decided later.
Pre Council Meeting held at the Embassy
The FTA Negotiation
(held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
HE Patricio Torres (Chilean Ambassador to Malaysia) in deep thoughts
Intense negotiation
Time for respite
(Dinner hosted in honour of the Malaysian delegation at the Residence)
"Negotiating" the food
The Jabatan Audit Negara was also in town
(They gave a "thumbs up" after auditing the Embassy)
www.kln.gov.my/perwakilan/santiago
