Oleh/By : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTRE,
KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 18/02/2003
Tajuk/Title : THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF SHOWCASE
MALAYSIA 2003 AND MALAYSIA
TOURISM FAIR 2003
Versi : ENGLISH
Penyampai : PM
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was formed over
four decades ago out of a need for a political grouping
for developing countries to safeguard their interests.
To remain relevant NAM must also focus on fostering
greater economic cooperation and trade linkages amongst
NAM member countries.
2. The time has come when the private sector must
assume a greater role in fostering cooperation within
NAM through economic activities. Private-sector led
initiative needs to be developed to set the momentum
for growth in business.
3. The contribution of NAM member countries to global
trade indicate that the potential for trade and
business collaboration has yet to be fully realised.
NAM member countries in 2001 accounted for US$ 880.5
billion or only 14.3% of world exports and US$ 736.9
billion or 11.4% of world imports. Taking into account
the number of countries that are members of NAM, the
present share of world trade is not significant. To
accelerate the pace of growth in trade, member
countries must intensify efforts to identify and
develop new areas of economic cooperation.
4. "Showcase Malaysia 2003" and "Malaysia Tourism
Fair 2003" brings together a cross section of the
products and services available in Malaysia. The
intention is to create awareness of the potential that
exists for expanding trade and economic collaboration
amongst business communities of NAM member countries.
5. The possibility of having a NAM Trade Exhibition
in conjunction with future NAM summits, to showcase the
products and services that are available in NAM member
countries should be explored. Such an exhibition can
contribute towards strengthening linkages between the
business communities of NAM member countries.
6. Tourism can also be a catalyst for economic growth
and interaction. Malaysia Tourism Fair 2003 has been
organised to coincide with the NAM summit, to provide
delegates the opportunity to see the rich cultural
heritage of the country. The tourism industry is
becoming an increasingly important sector to the
Malaysian economy, as, I believe it can be to most NAM
member countries. Tourism is especially important as
it enables other people to really know what our
countries and people are really like. This in itself
is important for closer relations between the NAM
countries. Towards the end we should facilitate travel
to our countries by reducing bureaucratic procedures
and encouraging our travel and tour agencies to promote
each other's country.
7. The 114 countries of NAM offer a large potential
for trade and investments. The private sector must be
innovative in capitalising on these opportunities.
Apart from using conventional tools to establish trade
links, the private sector must be creative in exploring
alternative arrangements like counter trade, contract
manufacturing and joint venture investments to exploit
the business potentials within NAM member countries.
8. The organisation of trade missions and business
visits to member countries could facilitate building of
stronger private sector linkages. Packaged visits to
member countries can provide a better insight of a
country's development, business environment as well as
trade and investment potential.
9. While governments will continuously seek new
avenues to establish and strengthen economic links with
member countries, I would like to urge the private
sector, including the trade and industry associations
in the NAM countries, to initiate programmes and
activities to explore the opportunities for business
collaboration with your counterparts in these
countries.
10. With the necessary feedback from the private
sector, governments can facilitate business
collaboration and investments, by providing the
enabling environment that is conducive for business
activities to expand and flourish.
11. Malaysia sees the potential of NAM members
contributing towards alleviating and mitigating any
negative impact of globalisation, while working
synergistically to benefit from the positive effects
through economic activities.
12. While trade liberalisation measures initiated by
WTO and the advent of globalisation has opened up new
markets, it has also intensified competition. No nation
can be competitive in everything, but through trade and
investment collaboration, NAM member countries will be
able to build on each other's strength to compete in
the markets of the world. Already the developed North
is taking advantage of the low costs in the South to
remain competitive in the market place.
13. Today, 83 members of NAM countries are members of
the WTO. Working together NAM member countries can be
an influential group in addressing issues in the
multilateral negotiations at the WTO so as to safeguard
the interest of developing countries.
14. The possibility of establishing links among
regional groupings should also be examined, as an
avenue to foster economic cooperation among NAM member
countries. Within NAM, we have members of various
regional groupings like ASEAN, Arab Common Market,
Economic Community of West African States, Gulf
Cooperation Council, South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation and the Southern African
Development Community. These linkages should provide
the avenues for mutually beneficial business
collaboration.
15. It is my hope that Showcase Malaysia 2003 and
Malaysia Tourism Fair 2003 will result in fruitful
business exchanges for the mutual benefit of all NAM
members and will serve as a catalyst towards
strengthening further economic ties between NAM member
countries.
16. On this note I hereby declare open "Showcase
Malaysia 2003" and "Malaysia Tourism Fair 2003".
Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri
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