M’sian businesses, investors must gear up for competition in China

NANNING – Malaysian businesses and investors must be prepared to compete for investment opportunities from or in China.

Malaysia’s consul-general in Nanning, Ahmad Phadil Ismail, said in view of China’s vast and open domestic market, Malaysia can explore many new markets based on its advantage in agricultural commodity production.

China reopened its international borders in January after almost three years of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Malaysian business community must seize the resulting opportunities to explore new markets in the republic, he said.

“China has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner all this while. But with the emerging competition from Vietnam, Malaysia must work harder.

“This is just the competition within Asean, not taking into consideration competition from Europe or other developed and developing countries,” he said.

Phadil said Asean’s position, especially Malaysia’s, in the shifting geopolitical landscape, should be viewed as an opportunity to attract investments.

According to him, China and Malaysia have continued to maintain very close relations despite changes in leadership. 

“We must capitalise on these close bilateral relations. China is ready to receive foreign investments. The question is whether Malaysia’s business community is ready to give the same commitment,” he said.

Phadil said agricultural commodities are among the main exports from Malaysia to China, and products such as palm oil, durian, and edible bird’s nest are well received in the Chinese market.

Therefore, he expressed hope that the Malaysian business community would make use of the business opportunities at the 20th China-Asean Expo in September this year.

On attracting investments from China, Phadil said electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, and green technology are among the new areas that could be looked into.

In 2022, trade with China reached 17.1% of Malaysia’s total global trade of RM2.8 trillion.

Total trade between the two countries last year amounted to RM487.13 billion, an increase of 15.6% compared to 2021. – Bernama, June 24, 2023