The Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Y.B. Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir will be leading a Trade and Investment Mission to Kyoto and Nagoya, Japan from 23-25 April 2012.

The Deputy Minister will be accompanied by Government Officials, State Government Representatives and a business delegation. The objectives of the mission are to:

1. follow up to the Trade and Investment Mission to Japan in July 2011 and Working Visit to Japan on 11-15 December 2011;
2. promote Malaysia as the preferred investment destination in South East Asia; and
3. firm-up business collaboration opportunities in sectors such as green technology, high-tech capital industry, biotechnology, advanced electronics and automotive industry

Programmes arranged for the mission include meetings with Japanese companies, Business Seminars and factory visits.

The Deputy Minister will also be leading Malaysia at the ASEAN Economic Ministers' Roadshow to Japan which will be held from 25-28 April 2012 in Sendai and Tokyo, Japan. The objectives of the Roadshow are to:

1. MALAYSIA - JAPAN TRADE & INVESTMENT

 TRADE PERFORMANCE

• For the last 6 year period , trade g rew at a n average rate of 3.2%. Apart from a sharp drop of 19.8% in trade with Japan in 2009 , there is now some pick-up in our bilateral trade.
• In 2011 , Japan continues as one of the leading major trading partners for Malaysia in the East Asia region, second largest after China and was Malaysia's third largest overall global trading partner . From Japan's side, Malaysia was Japan's 8 th largest trading partner.
• In 201 1, Malaysia's trade with Japan registered a positive growth of 9.0 % reaching US$ 47.48 billion . Exports , valued at US$26.13 billion and imports were US$21.35 billion .
• Malaysia's major exports to Japan were:

  • Liquefied natural gas (LNG) (US$ 11.24 billion, 43.0 % of Malaysia's total exports to Japan);
  • Electrical and electronic products (US$5.7 billion, 22.0 %);
  • Wood products (US$1. 3 billion, 5.0 %);
  • Chemicals and chemical products (US$ 1.1 billion, 4.1 %); and
  • Palm oil (US$0. 8 billion, 3. 1 %).

JAPANESE INVESTMENTS IN MALAYSIA

• Japan continues to be Malaysia's top source of foreign direct investment . As of 31 December 2011, a total of 2,422 manufacturing projects were implemented with total investments of US$19.45 billion.
• For 2011 , Japan was ranked as the largest investor with a total of 77 projects approved valued at US$3.2 billion . A total of 43 manufacturing projects were implemented amounting to US$ 454 million.
• Investments in manufacturing projects implemented were mainly in :
  • E&E products;
  • Non-metallic mineral products;
  • Basic metal products;
  • Chemicals and chemical products; and
  • Transport equipment.

2. ASEAN-JAPAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT

 TRADE PERFORMANCE

 ASEAN's Trade with Japan

(Value in US$ billion)

ASEAN's Trade with Selected Partners 2010

(Value in US$ million)

 JAPANESE INVESTMENT IN ASEAN

• Japan remains an important source of investment in ASEAN. FDI inflow into ASEAN by Japan was US$8,368 million in 2010 and US$3,763 million in 2009 .

 FDI flow from Japan to ASEAN

(Value in US$ million)