Press release 25.10.2004
Minna Saneri/EUMCCI

A partnership between Malaysia and EU to promote EcoTourism in Malaysia.

The EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EUMCCI) has been selected by the European Commission to implement a project in the field of EcoTourism in Malaysia.

The project is first of its kind in Asia under the EU-Asia cooperation program, Asia ProEco, which
is one of the initiatives by the European Union designed to promote mutual benefit and understanding between the Member States and Asia. The programme aims to improve environmental performance and technology partnership in economic sectors, and promote sustainable responsible investment.

The project implemented is “Transfer and adaptation of EU perspectives, methodologies and know-how to Malaysia in the field of EcoTourism”.

The Launch of the Project is co-organized by EUMCCI and EU Delegation. It is officiated by H.E: Thierry Rommel, Head of Delegation of Kuala Lumpur, Mr Robert Jaimond, Co-chairman of EUMCCI and the Chief Minister of Perak, Dato’ Seri Diraja Haji Mohamad Tajol Rosli Bin Tan Sri Hali Mohd. Ghazali.
The guests invited include the Board of Directors of EUMCCI representing 20 of the EU countries present in Malaysia, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, Malaysian and European partners and selected media. The Launch, which is held at H.E. residence, is followed by press conference and reception.

The ultimate objective of the project is Sustainable Tourism Development in Malaysia. To obtain this target Europe and Malaysia will build partnerships in order to exchange best practices, methodology and know how in the field of EcoTourism and in the perspective of a Sustainable Tourism Development.

The pilot sites are the States of Perak and Sabah. The partners of the project from Malaysian side are WWF and Malaysian Nature Society. The European partners - Regional Tourism Committee of Midi-Pyrenees and Center for Training and Promotion of Brens from France and SOFIS from Spain have been chosen owing to their expertise in the fields of methodology, training and planning of ecotourism.
WWF and Malaysian Nature Society will do the survey and data collection in Malaysia. Together the partners will develop suitable tools for implementation of EcoTourism in Malaysia during the workshops in Perak, of which the first one will be held 26-28 October during which the partners will visit the sites chosen: Belum Valley, Larut Matang Mangrove Forest and caves of Gua Tempurung. In Sabah the sites will be Kinabalu Park.
The final 3-day conference will be held in Perak in September 2005.

Duration of the project is altogether 16 months and the budget of the project is EUR 699.000
(RM3,3million) of which the EU is financing 62%. The rest of the project is financed by EUMCCI, States of Perak and Sabah.

The project gets the support of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism and will be widely promoted in Malaysia, Southeast Asia and in Europe in order to make Malaysia recognized as an Ecotourism Destination.

• Tourism Observatory is an information management system for tourism data which collects, manages, analyzes and diffuses socio-economic and marketing information on tourism activities. This data will provide figures for the whole industry and help them make decisions regarding planning, promotion, marketing and training.
• The second sub-objective, Environmental Management Sites, includes the interpretation and visitor management, signage, guiding, information provided for tourists, Ecolabels, waste, water and energy management and marketing strategies for the promotion of ecotourism. This requires the evaluation of the threats and opportunities as well as strengths and weaknesses of the site. This will provide the necessary tools for the strategic planning of the site.
• The third objective is to strengthen the relation and co-operation between universities, tourism industries and public institutions, and raise the awareness of domestic tourists towards Ecotourism. The aim is, eventually, to propose a set of trainings for tourism actors in Malaysia, fulfilling the needs, wishes and competencies.

Press release 11.06.2005
Marco Winter/EUMCCI

“Blöndal Polar Bears win Euro Futsal”

Blöndal Polar Bears managed to withstand a strong challenge from defending champions Maxis to win the “EURO Corporate Futsal Challenge 2005” at the Sunway Extreme Park today.

This social 5-a-side futsal tournament was organised by the European Union – Malaysia Chamber of Commerce & Industry (EUMCCI) to bring together European expat teams and corporate companies with their Malaysian counterparts. Blöndal Polar Bears represented Sweden, while other expat teams included Modesto’s Italy, Holland, Greece, Turkey Horizon School and Belgium/Luxembourg MBL.
A total of 32 teams joined the event, with all teams playing a minimum of 6 matches.

According to Event Manager Marco Winter, Executive Director of the EUMCCI, last year’s EURO Futsal event was organised in conjunction with EURO2004, while the organisers are planning an even larger event next year to coincide with the World Cup 2006 in Germany. “The social networking aspect of this event is very important; all 300 players joined the dinner, interactive football games and prize ceremony after the event,” Winter added.

Blöndal Polar Bears had a tough road to the Championship. In earlier round-robin matches the team lost to Maybank Insurance A, and just overcame DHL. In the semi-final, Blöndal beat Portugese ambassadors after one sudden-death penalty. Maxis had comfortably won all their 6 round-robin matches and the semi-final against Modesto’s Italy and looked set to retain their title when they took a 1-0 lead in the Final. However, Blöndal Polar Bears, powered by former national player Shebby Singh and Swedish players Sophus Broberg, John Ericsson and Bjorn Holmgren, immediately drew level taking the match into an exciting overtime. Half-way the 3-minute sudden-death OT, Ericsson found Halim Hadi for the winning goal.

Kishnu Kumar of Maxis was voted Most Valuable Player and he received a ticket to Europe from Emirates Airlines. The Shield competition was won by Corona Extra FC beating Intermovers.

The trophies and prizes were handed out by EU Commission Ambassador Thierry Rommel together with representatives of the sponsors Corona Extra, Marigold Viva Plus, Emirates Airlines, etv, Crown Relocations, Deloitte, ING Insurance and Sunway Extreme Park.

Speech by
Jari Silventoinen
EUMCCI Co-Chairman

Y.B. Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz, H.E. Mr. Thierry Rommel, Mr. Charles Schmit, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of Luxenbourg, representing the Presidency of EU, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the new EUMCCI office.

This office is EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce’s first office as a Chamber, though we have existed more than 10 years under EUBC – European Union Business Council. EUBC was transformed to EUMCCI about two years ago. Before this new office, we were kindly hosted by Malaysian German Chamber of Commerce for 18 months.

EUMCCI is a unique Chamber among all other Chambers, like bi-lateral country based business associations. It is like European Union, reaching from the North to the South of Europe as a diversified set-up of 25 independent states. EUMCCI is a chamber of chambers, having nine bi-lateral Chambers and business councils from EU as the founding members.

EUMCCI has in its’ Board of Directors 20 member countries represented by Chambers and Councils or by Commercial sections of Embassies or by private businessmen, if there is no bi-lateral chamber. EUMCCI complements the work of bi-lateral chambers and councils, whose members are also given EUMCCI membership. Companies from the countries, who don’t have business organizations can be direct members in EUMCCI.

The Chamber’s mission is to create and maintain a centre to be used for purposes of promoting, supporting, protecting and developing European Union business interests in Malaysia as well as to facilitate trade, commerce and investments between the EU and Malaysia. The Chamber is a non-profit private sector organization.

I would like bring up two major priorities among EUMCCI’s various general activities, which are co-ordination of EU private sector business representation, dissemination of information regarding the EU in Malaysia, initiatives on EU-funded development programs and projects, support to Small and Medium size Enterprises, sectorial committees, and social activities like annual Ryder cup style golf competition with Malaysian business partners and Europe Day events in May.

Firstly, EUMCCI is a leading partner in ongoing ECO-Tourism development project with Perak and Sabah state governments, where major part of the funding comes from EU. Project aims to transfer best practices in this quickly developing tourism sector. Malaysia offers many opportunities to European tourists, and we hope to see number of “Eco-tourists” from Europe to increase greatly in the future. The web-page of the project as well as EUMCCI webpages will be open this week.

Secondly, while most of the big European companies are already well established in Malaysia, EUMCCI is working to encourage also SMEs to come to invest and to trade in Malaysia. Similarly we see huge opportunities in the new Europe also for Malaysian SMEs. Special programs in these fields will start during this year and it is hoped we will obtain some funding for this from the EU. EUMCCI’s Board of Directors has extensive combined experience from Malaysian business totalling more than 200 years. We are most willing to share this experience with SMEs to make their entry easier, faster and to reduce risks. As SMEs are the backbone of the European economy, as it is in Malaysia to a great extent, EUMCCI is placing much emphasis in this initiative.

Today we are delighted and thankful to have Y.B. Dato’ Seri with us. As MITI and MIDA are the most important Malaysian counterparts to EUMCCI, we feel privileged to have their acknowledgement to our existence and also to our place of operation. Our co-operation has not been limited to the Annual MITI dialog and we are happy to have direct and open communication with both MITI and MIDA, whenever the need arises. As I mentioned earlier, EUMCCI Board has vast business experience from Malaysia. We have here many businessmen, who have been here more than 10 years and are willing “to sell Malaysia” among European businesses and companies. Please feel free to use us, as and when you need! Further, we also wish to meet MITI and MIDA team at golf challenge during this year!

We would like to thank also H.E. Thierry Rommel for sparing his time with us. Our excellent co-operation with the EC Delegation in KL is a good showcase to demonstrate, how public and private sector can effectively work jointly together. EUMCCI looks forward to enhancing this further.

I wish to extent our thanks to our sponsors, whose name plates are placed on the reception wall. Without their invaluable support this opening would not have taken place today.

As you may see from our office design concept, which has much light, EUMCCI is working in a very transparent manner. Thus we also can openly disclose our targets: EUMCCI wishes to see and is working hard to have EU as the most important and the best trading and business partner to Malaysia. By now, we believe, we are most balanced and fair partner and wish to enhance this position further in the field of trading and investments.

Thank you very much of your attention.

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Speech by
H.E. Thierry Rommel
Ambassador
Head of the European Commission Delegation in Malaysia

Yang Berhomat Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz,
Mm. Jari Silventoinen, Robert Jaimond, EUMCCI Co-chairmen
Mr Charles Schmit, Charge d’Affaires, Embassy of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg representing the EU presidency,
Fellow Ambassadors,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.

It is a pleasure to attend this afternoon at the inauguration of the new Office of the EU Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It is a honour to be doing so with the participation of Dato Seri.

Firstly, let me briefly dwell on the role of the EUMCCI. These new premises mark the coming of age of the EUMCCI that was officially set up in March 2003. These new premises are justified by the challenge ahead for the EUMCCI of fulfilling a leading role in the dialogue between the European business community established in Malaysia, on the one hand, and the Malaysian administration as well as other Malaysian actors who have an impact on the environment for EU-Malaysia economic relations, on the other. Having with us today Dato’ Seri is also a clear indication how the key Ministry dealing with international economic relations perceives the benefits of having one single interlocutor representing the common interests of the European business community or indeed expressing their shared concerns, be it on a sector specific basis or on a more encompassing basis, and one single interlocutor for the conduct of consultations and dialogue with the EU business community.

In this connection, I should like to aknowledge the culture of dialogue with the business community MITI has been spearheading and nurturing. This approach, inspired by a vision of the business community as a partner in development, should also be adopted with confidence by other ministerial departments and Bank Negara Malaysia when exercising their regulatory function. A case in point is the on-going hologram issue. Another one was the introduction of price controls on CDs and DVDs meanwhile abandoned for other more effective and market-based approaches to piracy.

Secondly, let me take a snapshot of EU-Malaysia relations.

Trade between Malaysia and the EU is flourishing. Since 1999 exports from the EU to Malaysia have increased up to 30% reaching in 2003 a total value of EUR 8.3 billion. Exports from Malaysia to the EU have risen by 14% over the same period; according to Eurostat figures, the EU absorbs 17% of Malasia’s merchandise exports. In terms of trade balance, Malaysia has a positive balance of more than EUR 6.8 Billion.

Let me now turn to direct investment by EU businesses in Malaysia. The EU has become the first foreign investor in Malaysia with a total share of almost 30% for both proposed and approved projects over the period 2000-3.

Thirdly, let me next look at the future of EU-Malaysia economic relations.

On the one hand, a still larger single market, with 25 states adding up to more than 450 million people, more than a quarter of world’s GDP, free circulation of goods, and definitely an open import regime. Further improving the market access picture, the European Commission has proposed to the EU member States that under the new EC GSP scheme for the years 2006-15 that would restore the GSP benefit for all commodity exports of Malaysia, except animal or vegetable fats and oils. Thus Malaysia would regain the GSP benefit for consumer electronics, plastics and rubber products, wood . On the other hand, a country like China will lose almost all its current benefits. The future for Malaysia’s exports is bright indeed.

What can we say about the future of EU exports to Malaysia? Let me take a broader look at this aspect. International trade, to be sustainable, is also about mutual benefits and about balance of benefits, while bearing in mind the development needs and requirements of developing countries - a consideration never disputed by the EU and indeed underlying the extensive unilateral trade concessions given by the EU to more than 150 developing countries. What do we observe?

On the one hand, Malaysia is piling up trade surpluses, especially with the EU: 35 billion euro with the EU for the period 1999-2003. Malaysia is also piling up large trade surpluses ( in excess of 20%, even 30% of GDP over the last 5 years), large CA surpluses ( 10% of GDP in 2000-2002, 14% in 2003 – equally high forecast for 2004), piling up foreign exchange assets ( end 2003, more than 240 bill RM, or more than GDP). Unexpected trends for a still developing country. On the other, Malaysia’s economy has to move higher in the value added chain - to transform itself into a knowledge-based economy and under the pressure of very dynamic patterns of international specialisation and competitive positions, especially with the emergence of China as a major exporting country – and has to promote the development of a wide array of efficient and competitive services in support of Malaysia’s manufacturing sector. In sum, the liberalisation of Malaysia’s services sector is both affordable and necessary.

The EU is looking forward, in that respect, and in the context of the Doha Round negotiations, to a more ambitious and broader offer by Malaysia in the area of services. This would set the stage for ever more expanding and mutually beneficial trade as well as investment relations between the EU and Malaysia, and indeed unleash new job creating opportunities for and in Malaysia in new niches of competitiveness and growth. Is this not what we really expect from the further liberalisation of the international trading system? The EUMCCI will no doubt be able to contribute to such a positive outcome for Malaysia, once the trade negotiators have been successful in securing this wider liberalisation of international trade in goods and services.

I thank you for your attention.

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• disseminating information on the opportunities in trade and investment in Malaysia and the ASEAN region;
• linking EU and Malaysian businesses in promotion of two-way trade and investment;
• protecting our mutual trade and investment interests especially when EU legislations could have a distorting trade effect, for example on issues such as proposed EU legislations on chemical strategy (REACH), waste from electrical and electronic equipment, sustainable development and the environment; and
• avoiding protectionist sentiments and increased use of trade defence measures in sectors that face competition from developing countries such as Malaysia.

• RM21.5 billion (48.1 per cent) were foreign investments while RM23.2 billion (51.9 per cent) were domestic investments; and
• 980 projects involving capital investments of RM30.2 billion (67.6 per cent) were new projects and the remaining 867 projects involving capital investments of RM14.5 billion (32.4 per cent) were expansion/ diversification projects.

• RM4.3 billion (82.7 per cent) were investments in new projects; and
• RM893.0 million (17.3 per cent) were investments in expansion / diversification projects.

• transport equipment (RM3.8 billion);
• E&E products (RM406.6 million);
• food manufacturing (RM213.6 million);
• textiles & textile products (RM191.2 million); and
• chemicals & chemical products (RM124.4 million).

• Regional Operations;
• Operational Headquarters;
• International Procurement Centres;
• Regional Distribution Centres;
• Regional Offices;
• Representative Offices; and
• Support Services such as:
  • integrated logistics services comprising the entire supply chain management, including procurement of software and hardware, warehousing, distribution (transportation and freight services), packaging activities and customs clearance; and
  • integrated market support services comprising the activities of brand development, consumer development, packaging design, advertising and promotion.