Caption: 
Seated from Left:
(1) High Commissioner of Kenya H.E. Francis Ndegwa Muhoro; (2) Ambassador of Somalia H.E. Abukar Abdi Osman; (3) Ambassador of Algeria H.E. Nasreddine Rimouche; (4) Charge D’Affaires a.i. of Nigerian High Commission Mrs. Rahmat O. Mohammed; (5) High Commissioner of Ghana H.E. Akua Sekyiwa Ahenkora; (6) Ambassador of Senegal H.E. Fatou-Danielle Diagne; (7) Dean of the African Ambassadors & Ambassador of Zimbabwe H.E. Cuthbert Zhakata; (8) MITI Minister YB Datuk Darell Leiking; (9) MITI Deputy Minister YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming; (10) MITI Secretary General  Dato’ Lokman Hakim Ali; (11) High Commissioner of Uganda H.E. Dorothy Samali Hyuha; (12) High Commissioner of The Gambia H.E. Ramzia Diab Ghanim; (13) High Commissioner of Namibia H.E. Anne Namakau Mutelo; (14) Ambassador of Egypt H.E. Gamal Abdelrehim Mohamed Metwally; (15) MATRADE CEO Dato’ Wan Latiff Wan Musa.
 
Standing from Left:
(1) MITI Deputy Secretary General (Trade) Dato’ Sri Norazman Ayob; (2) EXIM Bank Acting CEO Mr. Azhar Awang Kechil; (3) High Commissioner of Lesotho H.E. Major General (Rtd) Lineo Poopa; (4) High Commissioner of Zambia H.E. Walubita Imakando; (5) Ambassador of Sudan H.E. Hamza Omer Hassan Ahmed; (6) Charge D’Affaires a.i. of Tanzanian Embassy Mr. Khatibu Makenga; (7) Ambassador-Designate of Guinea H.E. Mohamed Lamine Conde; (8) MARii CEO Dato’Madani Sahari; (9) MITI Senior Director for Bilateral Economic & Trade Relations Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil; (10) First Secretary of Moroccan Embassy Mr. Youssef Ahallaou; (11) InvestKL CEO Datuk Zainal Azmanshah; (12) Minister Counsellor of Nigerian High Commission Dr. Kemoko Diakite; (13) MIDA Director for Foreign Investment Promotion Mr. Nelson Samuel Wilson; (14) MITI Director for Bilateral Economic & Trade Relations Ms. Kavitha Mathuvay; (15) First Counsellor of Nigerian High Commission Mr. Abdoul Aziz Loum.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- As part of MITI’s continuous effort to enhance Malaysia’s trade and investment performance with global economies, International Trade and Industry Minister YB Datuk Darell Leiking hosted a roundtable dialogue with the African Heads of Mission to Malaysia on 3 June 2019 at MITI Tower in Kuala Lumpur.
 
Led by the Dean of the African Ambassadors H.E. Cuthbert Zhakata who is also the Ambassador of Zimbabwe, the African delegation comprised of 21 officials including 14 Ambassadors and High Commissioners of Algeria, Egypt, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as embassy senior officials from Guinea, Morocco, Nigeria and Tanzania.
 
Also present were MITI Deputy Minister YB Dr Ong Kian Ming as well as heads of agency and senior officials of MITI, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), InvestKL and EXIM Bank. 
 
Both sides acknowledged the diverse opportunities in African region to be tapped by Malaysia and vice versa. Both sides also agreed that focused and strategic trade and investment promotion activities are vital to ensure substantial outcomes through tripartite collaborations among the embassies, private sector and government. Among the potential areas are automotive component and parts, building materials, infrastructure concessions including highways, ports, public housing and government buildings, ICT, agriculture and halal industry.
 
Minister Leiking commented, “We need to re-engage with Africa as it is an emerging market and it promises a huge prospect for Malaysian investors.” He also expressed hope for the rejuvenation of the South-South Cooperation particularly in the areas of trade and investment. He also welcomed the mooted Africa-Malaysia Business Forum in 2019 which is to be led by the African side.
 
In 2018, total trade with Africa amounted to RM31.38 billion, with exports to Africa at RM18.97 billion while imports were recorded at RM12.41 billion. Malaysia’s top exports to Africa were palm oil & palm-based agriculture products, processed food, petroleum products, machinery, equipment & parts and electrical & electronics. On the other hand, Malaysia’s top imports from Africa were crude petroleum, metalliferous ores and metal scrap, natural rubber and iron & steel products.
 
Note: The 21 countries which have established diplomatic missions in Malaysia are – Algeria, Egypt, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

About MITI
 
MITI is the key driver in making Malaysia the preferred destination for quality investments and enhancing the nation's rising status as a globally competitive trading nation. Its objectives and roles are oriented towards ensuring Malaysia’s rapid economic development and help achieve the country's stated goal of becoming a developed nation by 2020.
 
For further enquiries you may contact:
 
Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations Division
Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)
Level 21, Menara MITI
No. 7, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah
50480 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA
 
Telephone Number     : (603) 6200 2401
Facsimile Number       : (603) 6206 2645

Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia 
12 June 2019 
 
Source: Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Ministry of International Trade & Industry
Strategic Communications Unit
Tel: +603 6200 0083
Fax: +603 6206 4293
Email: allpegkomunikasikorporat@miti.gov.my

--BERNAMA