KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed will lead a trade and investment mission to three major European cities, namely Amsterdam, Hamburg and Birmingham, from tomorrow till March 13. The mission's objectives are to update the business community in The Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom on the current economic climate, trade and investment opportunities in Malaysia and promote Malaysia's products and services.

It is also aimed at strengthening business networking and establish collaborative initiatives and joint ventures, said the ministry in a statement.

The Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom) are important trading partners for Malaysia. Within the European Union (EU), Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom were ranked Malaysia's top three largest trading partners last year.

The three markets accounted for 6.9 per cent of Malaysia's total global trade and 61.7 per cent of Malaysia's trade with the 27-member EU.

The focus of the ?Business Opportunities in Malaysia? presentations to be held in each of the three cities will vary and be more sector-specific.

In Amsterdam, the focus will be on the services sectors, in Hamburg will be on services, mechanical engineering and supporting industries while in Birmingham on advanced engineering and life sciences industries.

Mustapa will be highlighting trade and investment opportunities in Malaysia and update the business community on the measures undertaken by the government to strengthen the economy, stimulate growth and address the effects of the global economic slowdown.

Business-matching sessions have been lined up for the business delegation members to interact with the private sector in the host countries.

MITI said within the EU, The Netherlands was Malaysia?s second largest trading partner in 2009, with total trade amounting to US$6.2 billion (RM21.9 billion) or 19.8 per cent.

The Netherlands was the largest export market for Malaysia in the EU, with exports totalling US$5.23 billion (RM18.42 billion), accounting for 30.7 per cent of exports to the EU.

As at December 2009, Dutch companies implemented 163 manufacturing projects, involving US$4 billion capital investment (RM14.1 billion). Major areas of investment are petroleum and petrochemical products; electrical and electronic products; chemicals and chemical products; food products and natural gas.

Germany was Malaysia?s largest trading partner in the EU last year, with total trade accounting for US$9.45 billion (RM33.3 billion) or 30 per cent of Malaysia?s trade with the EU, an economic and political union.

Germany was also the second largest export market for Malaysia in the EU, with exports amounting to US$4.21 billion, accounting for 24.7 per cent of exports to the EU.

As at December 2009, German companies implemented 320 manufacturing projects, involving US$5.8 billion (RM20.4 billion). Major areas of investment are petroleum and petrochemical products; electrical and electronic products; chemicals and chemical products; basic metal products and rubber products.

The UK remained Malaysia?s third largest trading partner in the EU last year, with US$3.7 billion (RM13.1 billion) or 11.8 per cent in total trade with the EU.

The UK was also the third most important export market for Malaysia in the EU, with cumulative exports at US$2.01 billion (RM7.1 billion) or 11.8 per cent to the EU.

As at December last year, 372 manufacturing projects with UK participation have been implemented. These projects were valued at US$1.6 billion (RM5.6 billion).

Major investment areas are petroleum and petrochemical products; chemicals and chemical products; basic metal products and rubber products, it said.

The mission delegation comprises 17 state government senior officials, Halal Industry Development Corporation, Northern Corridor Implementation Authority; 13 private sector representatives; officials from MITI, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority and Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation.

-- BERNAMA