KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 ? Japan has been ranked as Malaysia’s fourth largest trading partner after China, Singapore and the US in 2015, with bilateral trade amounting to RM127.40 billion.
Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, said the bilateral trade accounted for 8.72 per cent of Malaysia’s total global trade.
“With the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community last year, we believe ASEAN is now a rising star and I encourage Japanese investors to invest in Malaysia,” he said.
He said Malaysian companies would work together with Japanese firms to promote halal industry in the Japan.
Meanwhile, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro), Hiroyuki Ishige, said the collaboration with Malaysia in promoting the halal industry in Japan would help attract more tourists from Muslim countries.
“Over 250,000 Muslim tourists visited Japan in 2014 while in 2015, the number rose to 300,000 tourists. With the improved halal industry in Japan will attract more Muslim visitors to the country,” he said.
As a government-related organisation that worked to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and other countries, Ishige said, Jetro would arrange business-matching meetings between Malaysian and Japanese companies on the collaboration in halal sector. ? Bernama
