SHAH ALAM, 4 Dec: The state government through its subsidiary company, the Selangor State Investment Centre (SSIC) organised the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) forum entitled “Selangor The Gateway to AEC” at the Concorde Hotel in Shah Alam yesterday.
The international forum is aimed at providing information and knowledge on the AEC, in addition to the impact it has on entrepreneurs, businessmen and investors, which is expected to be implemented in 2015.
Through the AEC, ASEAN member countries will go through a single general business market which creates healthy competition among investors and traders from various industrial fields.
A total of 200 participants consisting of representatives of companies, businessmen and investors from the country and abroad, attended the forum which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Also present was the Executive Councillor in charge of Investment, Industry, New Village Development and Illegal Factory Whitening, Ean Yong Hian Wah, as well as the Exco in charge of Health, Entrepreneur Development, Science, technology and Innovation, Dr Daroyah Alwi.
Abdul Khalid said that the AEC would provide benefits, particularly to Selangor, because it will open the flow of free movement involving goods and services in all ASEAN member countries.
“The AEC will open doors to its members which the total intra-regional trade is bound to increase, while cross-border investment will grow.
“Now only will investment flows be created in ASEAN, but also outside the region, to take advantage of the new single market from the production base. It will be easier, cheaper and safer to invest,” he said.
He said that the industrial facilities in Selangor such as Port Klang and the existence of two major international airports will make Malaysia one of the countries which will be the focus of investors from and outside the country.
“Selangor is well positioned to benefit from this development and the connectivity that occurs can be considered to be a key success factor for us to improve,” he said.
Abdul Khalid said, however, industrial infrastructure in Selangor such as Port Klang must be improved to ensure that the state remains at the best investment destination in Malaysia.