Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : MINES RESORT CITY, SG.
BESI, SELANGOR
Tarikh/Date : 01/11/97
Tajuk/Title : THE LAUNCHING OF THE G-15 TRADE
EXHIBITION AND THE MALAYSIAN
PRODUCTS EXHIBITION (MPE)
1. I wish to thank the organisers of the G-15 Trade
Exhibition and the Malaysian Products Exhibition `97 for
inviting me to officiate at the opening of this
exhibition this evening. It is gratifying to see the
private sector of the G-15 countries gathered here
today. To our guests from the G-15 countries, I wish to
say `Selamat Datang' to Malaysia.
2. The G-15 is an important platform for the
developing countries of the South to jointly develop
trade and economic opportunities within the grouping and
beyond. Events such as the G-15 Trade Exhibition is
ideal for this purpose as it enables the private sector
of the member countries and non-member countries to get
a glimpse of what the G-15 countries have to offer. At
the same time the Malaysian Products Exhibition (MPE) is
also organised to showcase a cross-section of Malaysian
products and services. These two events organised in
conjunction with the Meeting of Heads of Government of
the G-15 countries, hopefully will enhance networking
among the private sectors of member countries.
3. Trade promotional activities such as these will
surely help promote products and services initially in
the G-15 markets. Producing world class goods that are
competitive in the world market should be our goal. We
have to make our presence felt through aggressive
marketing and promotion to enable us to get a bigger
share of world trade.
4. The G-15 as a group has a large population. This
in itself offers a ready market for a wide range of
products and services. It is therefore imperative that
G-15 member countries take the initiative to forge new
trade and economic partnership. This should be a
continuous effort and we should not wait for events such
as these to explore business opportunities in the member
countries. There are vast opportunities to be tapped in
all the member countries, and we should not let any slip
away.
5. As for Malaysia, our record shows that Malaysia's
trade with member countries of the G-15 has expanded
from RM5.86 billion in 1990 to RM16.72 billion in 1996.
Malaysia's total trade with the G-15 in 1996 represents
4.24 percent of Malaysia's global trade. I am sure
other member countries' trade with the G-15 have
similarly expanded, admittedly at different rates of
growth.
6. In addition, we are all at varying stages of
development and thus, have on-going and proposed
development projects, which can be undertaken by joint-
venture companies of the G-15 countries that have the
necessary expertise and knowledge. Similarly sub-
contractors, engineers and technicians from member
countries should be encouraged to participate. We must
be willing and prepared to take on these challenges.
Trade missions and business delegations to member
countries should be organised so that we have a better
understanding of the needs and demands of one another
within the grouping.
7. Being developing countries, the common shortcoming
we face is the acquisition of technology. The G-15
should band together to enable quick and effective
technology transfer. Technology developed by a
developing country is more appropriate and relevant to
other developing countries. Countries that have the
technology should be willing to teach, support and
transfer technology to countries that need the relevant
technology. The basis of the G-15 should be one of
cooperation and mutual support for each other. We must
all adopt the philosophy and concept of `prospering our
neighbours'.
8. The world is galloping ahead towards globalisation
and liberalisation. The actual meaning of globalisation
and liberalisation is not clear. Developed countries
have taken it upon themselves to interpret these terms
as meaning the removal of barriers to their trade and
their investments including portfolio investment.
Developing countries need to watch this very carefully
as their own industries are not yet able to compete and
to take advantage of investments in other countries and
opening their markets may result in unrestricted entry
of competing products from industrialised countries
which can afford to lose because they can make profits
elsewhere. Developing countries on the other hand may
not have products to export to markets which are opened
to them. The result may be detrimental to their
economic and industrial development.
9. The success of the members of the G-15 depends on
their ability to understand the changes in the global
market place and to influence these changes in their
favour. They cannot be passive and accept anything and
everything that is thrust upon them. They have to be
more circumspect. We have already seen how a liberal
policy towards currency and share trading has resulted
in abuses which undermine years of painstaking efforts
to develop the countries of Southeast Asia. While the
majority of those who take advantage of our openness are
genuine and serious, we must not forget that there are
many who only see opportunities for enriching themselves
at our expense. Impoverishing us in order to enrich
themselves is not something that they will hesitate to
do.
10. I would like to wish all the participants and
exhibitors in the two exhibitions every success. On
that note, I now officially declare open the G-15 Trade
Exhibition and the Malaysian Products Exhibition `97.
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