CLOSING REMARKS YAB PRIME MINISTER: IN CONJUNCTION MALAYSIA-VIETNAM BUSINESS FORUM 2023

Julai 21, 2023September 17, 2024Ucapan

CLOSING REMARKS

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER

IN CONJUNCTION

MALAYSIA-VIETNAM BUSINESS FORUM 2023

21 JULY 2023 (FRIDAY)

PAN PACIFIC HOTEL, HANOI, VIETNAM

In terms of diplomatic relations or bilateral relations, you have seen that Malaysia and Vietnam have a successful bilateral relationship and yesterday in my meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and dignitaries from Vietnam, we have seen the preparedness to expand that collaboration not only in terms of trade investments, but also expanding to education, culture, halal industry and even security and cybersecurity. Which means the relationship is special indeed, very strategic, which is peculiar, or I would say especially significant in terms of our general relationship with other countries and also in ASEAN.

So I must take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to the leadership of Vietnam for their commitment to enhance that of bilateral relations. Of course the number one fundamentally is trade, investments and business because it will affect and improve the livelihood of many of our citizens and they have opened their doors as we have done so.

We have established new business relationships thanks to both our Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Minister of International Trade and Industry, YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (Tengku Zafrul) and the Minister of trade, whom Tengku Zafrul met recently in New Zealand, and Vice Minister, who would certainly do the utmost to ensure that we ease the pace of approvals and of doing business.

As you know, in most of these countries, including in Malaysia, our challenge is make sure that we do attract investments and make it easy, both foreign direct investments and as my friend in the chamber would know, the ease of doing business even for domestic trade investments, which we will announce this Monday.

Now, I think the discussions, the two ministers have more expertise than me in these specific areas. But I would certainly only take this opportunity briefly to continue to invite Vietnamese businessmen to explore the possibility. You see, Vietnam came up to a very low threshold after massive devastation by the French and by the Americans.

However, in this last 30 years or so, the growth has been phenomenal and this is spectacular success among developing countries. You have done so not only in terms of political stability, structural reforms and more so in your effort to uplift the living standards your people. You have seen from my first visit in 1991, which was mainly, I would say, an experience for me, because a lot of things the Vietnamese Ministers wanted to learn from us and I had to encourage them to open banks here.

Now there are many things that we need to learn from you too, you see. So I must commend the business community and of course, the leadership of Vietnam for that phenomenal growth and success and now seen to be one of the stars in the newly industrialized countries.

So I would certainly want to assure you that because of this special relationship that we have with Vietnam, both Prime Ministers and Ministers, please do take that opportunity to make sure that this relationship is more meaningful in terms of investment and trade.

So I thank you again and I would strongly encourage you. First, I think the business delegation must visit Malaysia as soon as possible at the invitation of our chamber and we would like to see you there and the Minister Tengku Zafrul, will certainly with Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and the rest will facilitate some sort of program so that you explore the various fields that we discussed yesterday with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. So, thank you very much.

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