Malaysia courts Europe
Business talk: Anwar welcoming the IWS and World Economic Council delegations to Putrajaya. — Photo sourced from Anwar's Facebook
PETALING JAYA: Business-friendly policies and facilities that can benefit foreign investors were among topics discussed during the International Economic Senate's (Internationaler Wirtschaftssenat – IWS) visit to Malaysia, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister, who met the delegation led by IWS chairman Peter Nussbaum, said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to explore investment opportunities, particularly by German companies.
The visit also included a delegation from the World Economic Council.
'We exchanged views on business-friendly policies and facilities provided by the government that can benefit foreign investors,' he said in a post on Facebook yesterday.
Anwar said Germany has been Malaysia's largest trading partner among European Union (EU) member states since 2000.
The IWS, established in Germany, aims to unite business leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers with the mission of fostering sustainable economic development and responsible business practices.
The World Economic Council delegation is one of the key initiatives of IWS which brings together senior business leaders, government officials and experts in various fields.
Anwar said Malaysia sees greater potential following the recent announcement on the resumption of negotiations for the Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (MEUFTA).
Negotiations for MEUFTA started in 2010, but stalled in 2012 following Malaysia's reservations over the EU's palm oil procurement policies, subsidies and sustainability clauses.
One of the reasons for the breakdown is discrimination over palm oil, particularly claims regarding open burning and labour practices.
According to the prime minister, Malaysia is in a better position now to negotiate with the EU due to its political stability and economic strength.
In another post, Anwar said songstress Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin can become a role model for young artistes and entertainers.
The Prime Minister said this was among issues raised during a courtesy call by Siti Nurhaliza and her husband Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, representing Yayasan Nurjiwa.
'We also touched on the importance of variety in arts performance, to meet the needs of the new generation and ensure the industry remains relevant,' said Anwar.
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