KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- The Second Minister of the International Trade and Industry, YB Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan, will undertake a working visit to Germany from 24-28 April 2017, to participate in the Hannover Messe 2017. Hannover Messe is a world renowned industrial expo organised in Hannover, Germany since 1947. With Malaysia now focusing on Industry 4.0, this visit is timely to garner more insights on innovation-driven, technology-oriented and high value added industries to stay competitive globally. 
 
YB Dato’ Seri Ong is scheduled to deliver the keynote address entitled “ASEAN In 2017: Taking New Opportunities through Trade Policy” at the ASEAN Forum of Hannover Messe 2017 to an international audience with interest in exports and investments in and to ASEAN. 
 
The Minister will also meet several high profile German companies to discuss investment opportunities in Malaysia. 

Germany is Malaysia’s largest trading partner from the European Union (EU) in 2016 and ranked 11th globally. In 2016, total trade with Germany increased by 7.1% in Ringgit term to RM46.08 billion (€10.04 billion). Malaysia’s exports to Germany expanded by 13.5% to RM22.30 billion (€4.86 billion) in 2016, while imports grew by 1.8% to RM23.78 billion (€5.18 billion) compared with 2015. 

Top 3 exports to Germany in 2016 are electrical and electronic products (RM14.37 billion, 64.4%), optical and scientific equipment (RM1.78 billion, 8.0%) and rubber products (RM14.78 billion, 8.0%). Meanwhile, top 3 imports are electrical and electronic products (RM6.18 billion, 26.0%), machinery, equipment and parts (RM5.48 billion, 23.0%) and transport equipment (RM4.10 billion, 17.2%).

Germany is also our largest investor from the EU. To date, Malaysia has approved USD11.9 billion of investments with German participation involving 568 manufacturing projects. These have created more than 66,646 employment opportunities. German companies have a strong  presence in sectors such as electrical and electronics; petroleum products including petrochemicals; chemicals; as well as scientific and measuring equipment.
  
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Source : Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) 
 
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--BERNAMA