Ample room for further Vietnam-Malaysia cooperation, says Tengku Zafrul

KUALA LUMPUR: Major trading partners Malaysia and Vietnam should work closely to draw more investments in the Asean region, says Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (pic).

In an interview with Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondents in Kuala Lumpur ahead of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s official visit to Vietnam on Thursday and Friday (July 20 and 21), he said he would accompany the Prime Minister with the aim of promoting trade and investment ties.

He said Malaysia ranked fourth among Asean members for Vietnam as a trade partner.

Malaysia is Vietnam's third-largest foreign direct investor in the grouping, and there is still opportunity for the two nations to improve their cooperation in trade and investment, particularly the export and import of agricultural and aquatic goods, Tengku Zafrul said.

He suggested that, aside from agriculture, the two nations work together in the green and digital economies where both are investing heavily, and that they prepare to enter markets outside of Asean, including the halal market.

Collaboration in food and agriculture should come first but there was also potential for working together in the cosmetics and healthcare industries, he added.

Representatives from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) will also be part of the delegation to Vietnam.

They are scheduled to hold working sessions with Vietnamese businesses that target exports to Malaysia.

Tengku Zafrul also said his ministry would be holding the annual Malaysia International Halal Showcase in September, with participation from domestic and international enterprises, and expressed hope that Vietnamese companies will view Malaysia as the worldwide centre for the export of halal products. – Bernama/VNA