MALAYSIA'S chair of the ASEAN regional grouping this year and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's relentless campaign to find new markets for the country's export - orientated economy, has put the nation in good stead to move forward.
Deputy Minister of International Trade and Investments (MITI) Sim Tze Tzin said the country is now in a solid position to tap new markets for its products and produce while also maintaining good ties with superpowers such as US and China.
"Anwar has led the away to new markets in the Middle East, Latin America and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa trade bloc)."
It should help the country to tap such markets in view of the multipolar world where global economy is spread wider than the previous bloc of Europe and North America.
Sim said this after donating blood at a Health Ministry's blood donation campaign at the Giant hypermarket complex in Bayan Baru.
The Bayan Baru MP said that Malaysia's determination to solidify itself as a middle power, friendly to all countries and advocating the regional clout of ASEAN, is helping the country to weather the global uncertainties of today.
Besides tapping new markets, Sim said that he would focus with MITI Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani on the need to elevate local large companies (LLC) to make them compete globally as part of the semiconductor supply chain.
"China, South Korea and Taiwan have many LLC electronic giants now competing on the global - level. We need to also emulate this because we are an important part of the international electronics & electrical scene."
So, more emphasis would be devoted towards steering the LLC towards the global markets and in return bring a higher value to the semiconductor industry, said Sim.
Sim said that as the Bayan Baru MP, he is suited to enhance MITI role, as almost all of the semiconductor players are located within his constituency.
"We will try to leverage off this and help them compete better and meet their needs, especially when they had reinvested into the country," said Sim. - December 20, 2025.
