KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- YB Datuk Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry will be leading a Trade and Investment Mission (TIM) to Australia from 19 – 23 August 2019. The Mission comprises officials from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), InvestKL Corporation and EXIM Bank.

During the mission, Minister Darell is scheduled to meet with top officials from the Federal Government of Australia as well as senior officials from the State Government of South Australia and Victoria. Minister Darrel will also be meeting The Hon. Andrew Barr, Chief Minister of Australian Capital Territory in Canberra. In conjunction with this TIM, the 18th Joint Trade Commission (JTC) Meeting will be held on 20th August 2019 which will be co-chaired by Minister Darell and his counterpart from Australia, The Hon. Simon Birmingham, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment. The objective of this meeting is to discuss on the bilateral trade and investment issues as well as opportunities for further collaboration in strengthening bilateral trade and investment for both countries.

Minister Darell and the delegates will also be visiting University of South Australia (UniSA), Mawson Lakes Campus. The visit will provide insights on UniSA Industry 4.0 Lab Space and MARii’s projects; the Light Weight Plastic Glazing Project and the Hard Coating Project (flow coating). In addition, Minister Darell will be visiting the Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0 Hub, Swinburne University of Technology. This hub, or also known as ‘Factory of the Future’, made its history by being the first ever fully-immersed Industry 4.0 facility in Australia.

In expanding partnership with private sector, Minister Darell will be interacting with prominent business groups such as Australia-Malaysia Business Council (South Australia Chapter) as well as selected companies in sectors such as food and beverages, healthcare, machinery, Halal hub and Aged Care Centre.

Minister Darell will connect with strategic partners during a seminar on ‘Business & Investment Opportunities in Malaysia as Gateway to ASEAN’. He will also be sharing his views with the Australian media during his interview sessions.

In 2018, Australia was Malaysia’s 11th largest overall global trading partner and largest among Oceania countries. The total trade between both countries was recorded at RM55.13 billion (USD13.11 billion) in 2018 with Malaysia’s export to Australia amounted to RM33.55 billion (USD7.98 billion) and imports value totalled at RM21.58 billion (USD 5.13 billion).

In terms of investments, 350 manufacturing projects were implemented with total investment recorded at RM2.79 billion (USD 0.66 billion). These projects had created 22,626 employments in Malaysia. The projects are focused on key sectors such as chemical-based products, petroleum-based products and rubber-based products.

Ministry of International Trade & Industry
18th August, 2019

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.

Source: Ministry of International Trade & Industry

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