Check out Malaysia: Swiss News talks to Malaysian ambassador Datuk Ismail Mustapha regarding the Swiss-Malaysian relations, the Malaysian expatriate community in Switzerland, the history of bilateral ties between the two countries and more.
| Auteur | Kwok, Christina |
| Fonction | Malaysia Special |
Just as Switzerland is often referred to as a microcosm of Europe because of the existence of four multicultural groups living together, each with its own language (German, French, Italian, Reto-romanisch), Malaysia is often described as being truly Asia, a reflection of the ethnic composition, language and customs of the majority races on this continent.
Swiss News takes a look at the history and state of bilateral ties between the two countries and the extent of Swiss foreign direct investment in Malaysia in an interview with Malaysian Ambassador to Switzerland, Datuk Ismail Mustapha, who arrived here a year and a half ago from his previous posting as Malaysian Ambassador to the State of Kuwait.
To begin with, Datuk Mustapha is exceedingly impressed with the civic order, cleanliness, comfort and efficiency of this tiny landlocked country which boasts the second highest per capita income in the world. After the hot and scorching desert landscape of Kuwait, Switzerland with its imposing mountainous landscape, numerous lakes and lush green Alpine pastures, is a refreshing change.
Economic Facts
The Malaysian Embassy reopened in Bern recently in April 2003. However, commercial relations between Switzerland and Malaysia date back more than a century with investments by early Swiss companies such as Diethelm and Nestle.
Today, over 120 Swiss companies operate in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors in Malaysia.
Some, with a strong presence in Malaysia, include Holcim, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), Roche. Novartis, Schindler, Swiss Reinsurance and Zurich Insurance.
In 2001, bilateral trade between Malaysia and Switzerland amounted to USD 1.1 billion, with Malaysian exports totalling USD 179 million and imports from Switzerland amounting to USD 938 million (text of Dr. Mahathir's speech to Swiss businessmen in June 2002). This makes Switzerland Malaysia's seventh largest trading European partner.
Between 1996 and 2003, Malaysia approved some 48 projects with Swiss investments totalling USD 800 million (US$1 = RM3.80), mainly in the electrical and electronics, textiles, machinery and food manufacturing sectors. This makes Switzerland the fourth largest European investor in Malaysia after Germany, the UK and the Netherlands.
Swiss business interests are not just keen to set up operations in Malaysia, but also plan to use the country, as a springboard to other ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations, a market of 500 million people)...
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