ADDRESS BY
H.E. MOHD AINI ATAN
AMBASSADOR OF MALAYSIA TO THE LAO PDR
MALAYSIA-LAO PDR BUSINESS MEETING
Monday, 17 July 2017, 8.30 am
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Vientiane, the Lao PDR
His Excellency Savankhone Razmountry
President of Lao Media Association, who is also the
Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao PDR
Mr. Daovone Phachanthavong
Vice President
Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Mr. Faizal Izany Mastor
Trade Commissioner
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation
Ho Chi Minh City
Mr. Sven Schneider
Director, Corporate Strategic Planning & Corporate Communication
Invest Selangor Berhad
Dato’ Suresh A. Advani
Managing Director, Retro Minds Network
Representatives from the Lao PDR Business Community and the Malaysia Business Council based in Vientiane, the Lao PDR
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Selamat Pagi, Good Morning, Sa Bai Dee
1. My warm welcome to all distinguished guests attending this Malaysia-Lao PDR Business Meeting this morning. This “ASEAN Business Visit”, is an event to prepare and promote the forthcoming “Selangor International Business Summit 2017” that will be held from 11 - 12 September 2017 in Malaysia.
2. For that, I wish to congratulate the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, especially its Vice President, Mr. Daovone Phachanthavong and the Invest Selangor Berhad, the investment arm of the Selangor State Government of Malaysia, for co-hosting the event today. Special thanks should be accorded to the Lao PDR Business Associations and the event manager, Retro Minds Network for enabling this event to take place.
3. As for the Embassy of Malaysia in Vientiane and MATRADE office in Ho Chi Minh City, it has always been in our joint interest to facilitate networking between business entities within ASEAN member countries, in this morning case, between members of Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Invest Selangor Berhad.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
4. The combined 10 members of ASEAN countries offer a huge market valued at USD2.6 trillion, over 622 million of consumers and buyers. Collectively, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is the 3rd largest economy in Asia and the 7th largest in the world. These facts alone should be enough to encourage companies from Malaysia and the Lao PDR to embark on new business ventures.
5. For the record, the State of Selangor, is the highest Gross Domestic Product’s (GDP) contributor to Malaysia’s economy, amounting to USD 55.5 billion in 2015, making up of 22.6% of the total GDP of Malaysia. It is also one of Malaysia’s richest and most-developed state.
6. Location wise, located in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, which are the Capital and the Administrative Center of Malaysia respectively, Selangor, therefore is very attractive in term of location for prospective investors or businesses to set up business in Malaysia.
7. Indeed, I will leave it to Invest Selangor Berhad to brief and elaborate further on “Selangor International Business Summit 2017’, as well as for Retro Minds Network, to brief and share with participants on information related to the “ASEAN Pavilion at Selangor International Expo 2017”. LNCCI would also share their experience with participants today, particularly with their Selangor counterparts on Business and Investment opportunities in Lao PDR.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
8. The recent Official Visit to Malaysia by Excellency Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on 9-10 May 2017, and the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Malaysia and the Lao PDR last year, hopefully would further spur and encourage the Lao PDR companies to participate in the forthcoming “Selangor International Business Summit 2017”, to be held from 11 - 12 September 2017 in Malaysia.
9. As the “Selangor International Business Summit 2017”, in September would receive ASEAN as well as global participations and international exhibitors, it would indeed serve as the best platform for the Lao investors and businesses to build relations and networking with their counterparts across the globe.
10. I am confident that the forthcoming “Selangor International Business Summit 2017” in September could further spur two-ways bilateral trade between our countries. I am also positive that participation by the Lao companies in the Business Summit in Selangor will help to maintain the already upward trend in Malaysia-Lao PDR bilateral trade relations, which recorded USD31 million in 2016, compared to USD17.7 million in 2015. An increase of 74.5 percent.
11. I am also confident that the presence of His Excellency Savankhone Razmountry, President of Lao Media Association, who is also the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao PDR, with us this morning would create the necessary aura and publicity, which is helpful to promote the hosting of “Selangor International Business Summit 2017”.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
12. The Embassy of Malaysia in Vientiane, Lao PDR and the MATRADE Office in Ho Chi Minh City, are always ready to support the Lao business community in meeting whatever you need on matters related to business and investment.
With that, I conclude my remarks.
Terima Kasih, Thank You, Khob Chai.