Guan Eng leads MoF team to Japan to meet investors, senior govt officials

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng presents a souvenir to Japan's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso.

KUALA LUMPUR: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng led a delegation from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) on a roadshow to Japan to meet and discuss with Japanese investors and senior government officials over three days. 

The trip was to promote Malaysia as a stable and high-potential investment destination, according to an MoF statement released on Friday. 

“It was also aimed at giving the international investing community confidence to take part in the forthcoming samurai bond issuance valued at 200bil yen (RM7.6bil) and guaranteed by the Japan Bank Investment Corporation (JPIC),” it said. 

The roadshow began on Feb 6 and among the 20 participants were Treasury secretary-general, Datuk Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir, Treasury deputy secretary-general, Datuk Siti Zauyah Md Desa, and assistant governor of Bank Negara Malaysia Marzunisham Omar.
 
MoF said the roadshow was organised by Daiwa Markets Ltd (in collaboration with Affin Hwang Investment Bhd), HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd, and Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Bhd, as co-lead arrangers appointed by MoF for the bond’s issuance. 

According to Lim, international investors are confident in Malaysia’s economic potential as well as the current Government’s ability to drive the nation’s economy forward. 

“Malaysia continues to be regarded as an attractive investment destination by investors. What more with the government’s commitment to the Competency, Accountability, and Transparency (CAT) principles in its governance under the leadership of Prime Minister, YAB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, an international statesman well-known and much respected in Japan,” he said in the statement. 

Lim added they were  confident that their investments will be used to grow Malaysia’s economy to the fullest. 

Lim also met Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Taro Aso; and adviser to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Shinya Izumi. 

He conveyed the Malaysian Government’s appreciation towards the Japanese Government’s willingness to guarantee the Malaysian Samurai Bond via JBIC to reduce the interest cost of the loan. 

“The Japanese Government not only facilitated the bond’s issuance in a short span of time, they also opened up potential trade opportunities in other areas, according to the MoF. 

“Their meeting also discussed future directions in the relationship between the two countries, and opportunities to increase collaboration and investment in various strategic areas.

“The long-held close relationship and cooperation between the two Governments is expected to develop further through this trip and deliver a positive impact for all Malaysians. It is hoped that the relationship between the two countries 

will attain great heights to that when the Look East policy was first introduced by Dr Mahathir, where Japan played a major role in Malaysia’s economic development at that time,” the MoF statement said.