The Government will continue to address business related issues in an expeditious manner. The Government, through PEMUDAH, is currently implementing many new measures to further facilitate business in Malaysia, including: • establishment of the Kuala Lumpur Commercial Court by end 2009 to speed up resolution of commercial disputes; • implementation of MyCoID, a standardised identification number to be adopted for companies dealing with all Government agencies; • preparing a ‘Guidebook on Industrial Relations’ to provide guidelines on hiring and firing of workers; and • compiling an ‘Asset Search Directory’ that contains organisations and agencies that assist in identifying and tracing company assets to facilitate closing businesses. Malaysia’s reform initiatives have resulted in improvements in the public service delivery system. These improvements are reflected in the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business Index’ where Malaysia moved from 24th place in 2008...

Starting next year, MITI will put more emphasis on the performance of entrepreneurs nationwide. This is to be done consistently through-out the year and MITI, through its agencies, will conduct a series of Business Clinics for consultation with the entrepreneurs. The message was delivered by YB Minister Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed during the launching of the Negeri Sembilan Entrepreneurship Carnival held on 5 December 2009, in Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan. Some 100 entrepreneurs participated in the 2-day event.

Nearly two thirds of GDP by 2015 will be services. The new economic model for Malaysia places emphasis on raising the productivity level of workers to help them earn higher incomes as well as raising the country’s income status as a whole from middle to high. When the new economic model is unveiled, necessary changes and realignment to policies and strategies outlined in the IMP3 will have to be made. These include changes to macro-frameworks and to inject the elements of innovation and creativity into the development strategies. The target has been set; the contribution of the services sector is to increase to 60 per cent of the GDP by 2015. We want to hear your feedback…

 

YB Minister presents his Keynote Address at the National Domestic Investments Dialogue & Seminar organised by MIDA and SME Corp. at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur. The Dialogue & Seminar was well received with participants coming from all over the country.

Majlis MINI Showcase Groom Big ini adalah bertujuan untuk memberi pendedahan kepada orang ramai dan usahawan mengenai program Groom Big yang dilaksanakan oleh MITI dalam menggalakkan pembangunan usahawan yang berkualiti dan berdaya saing dalam sektor pembuatan dan perkhidmatan di peringkat domestic dan global. Program ini yang bermula sejak 2005 bagi industri makanan dan minuman telah memberikan banyak manfaat kepada usahawan tempatan. Sehingga Februari 2010, sebanyak 1,500 permohonan telah diterima dari seluruh negara dan daripada jumlah itu, 819 syarikat telah diberikan khidmat perundingan yang melibatkan 1,093 projek. Bagi industri kosmetik dan herba, seramai 70 usahawan telah diberikan khidmat perundingan, manakala seramai 15 usahawan dibangunkan dalam industry seramik dan kaca.

This afternoon, I had a very successful meeting with my Indian counterpart, the Hon. Minister Anand Sharma, in New Delhi . We discussed the progress of bilateral negotiations to ensure that we are on track to conclude the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement as agreed by our Prime Ministers during Dato’ Seri Mohd Najib’s visit in January 2010. Earlier, I met with business leaders representing the Confederation of Indian Industry to exchange views and update them on some measures that Malaysia has taken in response to the issues they raised previously including matters on ease of doing business and visas for Indian expatriates. In between, I also took some time to meet with members of the Malaysian community in New Delhi . I joined the Malaysian Muslim brothers for Friday prayers at the Indonesian Embassy and later in the evening, met the business community for dinner. I am happy to see that they enjoy the highest level of...

 

YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed stressed the pivotal role of MITI in realising the Government’s aspiration to shift the nation towards high-income, knowledge-based economy at MITI’s monthly assembly today. Also present were YB Dato’ Jacob Dungau Sagan, Deputy Minister (Industry) and Y.Bhg. Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Mamat, Secretary General of MITI. He said that MITI, being the Ministry in-charge of the development of the manufacturing and services sectors, is responsible for at least 80% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “The GDP comprises 30% output from manufacturing and 50% services; therefore 80% of the GDP depends on the efficiency of MITI and agencies’ personnel in carrying out their duties and formulating the right policies for industry and trade to grow” said the Minister. YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa also stressed the importance of MITI officers acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills, including writing, communication and negotiation; in order...

The other company, S.E.H (Shah Alam) Sdn. Bhd., a Japanese company with local participation, manufactures silicon polished wafers – one of the only four major producers of the product in the world. Since its inception in 1973, the company has invested RM2.8 billion in this business. Going down to the ground to get first-hand feedback is imperative in the formulation of policies and creation of conducive environment for industries to expand. The issue of natural gas supply, foreign labour policy and shortage of talents in the middle management level were some of the concerns highlighted during my visit. It is my priority now to review the current policies pertaining to investment to ensure Malaysia remains on investors’ radar.