Malaysia expects exports to Japan to pick up

Minister in the Prime Minister Department, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar [left] sharing a light moment with ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Jpan to Malaysia, Dr Makio Miyagawa [right] and JICA vice president, Kae Yanagisawa during the 50th anniversary of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers [JOCV] in Malaysia at Royale Chulan Hotel. AZMAN GHANI / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia progresses through 2016, the country is looking forward for exports to Japan to pick up.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, said as the country moved further down the stream into various petrochemical products, there would be more products exported to Japan.

“Especially once the Rapid (Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development) project is implemented, we hope there will be more diversified products exported to Japan and likewise, we hope the trade investment will continue to increase.

“The LNG (liquefied natural gas) export to Japan was severely affected in 2015 with some 27% drop in the value of export but most of the other products are stable or seeing continuous improvement, especially electrical and electronic products,” he told reporters after officiating the 50th anniversary of the Japanese Overseas Cooperation of Volunteers (JOCV) at the Royal Chulan Hotel here on Monday.

In his speech earlier, Abdul Wahid said that in 2014, Japan was Malaysia’s third largest trading partner after China and Singapore with a total trade of RM137.45bil.

As of Oct 2015, the total trade between Malaysia and Japan amounted to RM106bil.

“Among the main exports from Malaysia to Japan were LNG, electrical, electronics and chemical-based products.

“Our imports from Japan are electrical and electronic products, machines, equipment, as well as spare parts and accessories for vehicles,” he said.

Abdul Wahid also congratulated JOCV for their 50-year milestone. 

JOCV is one of the programmes of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), which aimed to promote international cooperation, sound development of Japanese and global economy by supporting the socioeconomic development of developing regions. 

Malaysia received the first five members of JOCV in January 1966 and the figure has now grown to over 1,500 members serving some 120 sectors.

Abdul Wahid said the bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan had expanded steadily and substantially since 1957 and that the Look East Policy (LEP), initiated in 1981, had been the cornerstone of the current Malaysia-Japan relations.

“In terms of the Malaysia-Japan cooperation in development, the Japan Official Technical Assistance not only dispatches expatriates and volunteers to Malaysia but also initiates project-type technical cooperation, Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (Satreps) and Development studies undertaken with relevant agencies in the country.

“The Economic Planning Unit (EPU) under the Prime Minister’s Department is the country coordinator for all programmes related to Japan’s official development assistance to Malaysia.

“The partnership between EPU and Jica for the past 50 years has been successful in ensuring all relevant technical assistance and funding are being channeled towards intended areas of development,” Abdul Wahid added.

Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Makio Miyagawa, who was present, said he was amazed that the Japanese volunteers had adapted themselves well in the Malaysian society.

He added that he was glad the volunteers shared the same philosophy and thinking that they should act together with the people in the grassroots level and not impose their style unilaterally, the same philosophy that was coined at the beginning of the establishment of JOCV.

Also present was Jica vice-president Kae Yanagisawa.