1. The 32^nd MAJECA-JAMECA Joint Conference was held on 13 December 2013 at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan.  The theme of the conference was “Deepening and Strengthening the Economic Collaboration between Japan & Malaysia – Initiatives under the 2nd Wave of Malaysia’s Look East Policy”. Mr Mikio Sasaki, President of JAMECA, and Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MAJECA, co-chaired the Joint Conference.
Malaysian Prime Minister, Hon. Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak, delivered the KEYNOTE ADDRESS and opened the Conference.

QUOTES FROM THE PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH:

On the Second Wave of the Look East Policy:

“So I am pleased that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during his official visit to Malaysia in July, showed his support for a second wave – the LEP 2.0.  Together, we reiterated our commitment to this long-standing co-operation, and agreed that it should look towards a future defined not just by the exchange of knowledge, but by lasting economic collaboration.  We agreed that we should encourage more strategic partnerships between Japanese and Malaysian SME in areas such as green technology, renewable energy, technical services and other high value added sectors.”

“The second wave of the Look East Policy is about the industries of the future: high-tech and low-carbon.  My proposal is that LEP 2.0 focuses on the following sectors:

a)       Cutting-edge technologies with industry tie-ups to increase the flow of research and innovation from Japanese institutions, in everything from nanotechnology to bio and environmental technology;

b)       High-tech skills development – new knowledge-based skills development; to accompany new technologies;

c)       High-end services development – building on Japan’s know-how in services such as hospitality and health-care, and opening up new collaborations;

d)       Managing eco-systems with safe, reliable and renewable energies – tackling over-dependence on fossil fuels and improving water supply management are current concerns by tapping into Japanese sustainable energy expertise;

e)       Modernising small and medium sized enterprises, with technology transfers and management input; encouraging new connections between SMEs with high-growth potential, to enable them to move up the value chain; and

f)        Senior Citizens; to study and implement programmes to mitigate the coming challenges of an aging population, and focusing on healthcare and life-style for senior citizens.”
“Malaysia has already put in place the structure needed to implement the LEP 2.0, with a Ministerial committee led by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.But although our governments can plan the way forward for the new Look East Policy, it’s the private sector – so ably represented by business councils and economic associations – that will drive success.  I would like to see both sides develop more targeted programmes with specific outcomes.  And here I must commend both MAJECA and JAMECA for their relentless efforts in promoting and enhancing economic relations of both our countries.
We wouldn’t  be where  we are today without your assistance and support.  On behalf of the people of Malaysia, I would like to say, Arigato Gozaimas.”

On the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015:

“Our vision is to transform the region into a single market, with a population of over 600 million and an integrated production base.  With deeper integration through the ASEAN Free Trade Area, we believe that the AEC will make ASEAN more competitive, and lead to a more conducive environment for business.

Of course, the challenges are many:  The private sector will have a crucial role in the realization of the AEC.  Greater collaboration between government agencies and private sectors should be promoted and enhanced, and creating awareness of ASEAN’s economic integration agenda is a critical first step, especially for SMEs within the region.  I look forward to working with many of you to make it a reality.”

2. After the Keynote Address, the Hon. Prime Minister, together with the Hon. MITI Minister, Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamad, witnessed the BUSINESS ALLIANCE SIGNING CEREMONY between Affin Investment Bank Berhad (Malaysia) and Daiwa Securities Group Inc (Japan).

• The agreement provides for the distribution of Malaysian research reports produced by Affin Investment Bank to Daiwa Securities Group’s global client base, and will also allow Affin Investment Bank to distribute Daiwa Securities Group’s global research to Malaysian institutional investors, on a co-branded basis.
• The agreement also envisages equity trading collaboration between both parties. With this arrangement, Daiwa will channel all its clients’ trades on shares quoted in Bursa Malaysia through Affin Investment Bank and Affin Investment Bank will channel all its Malaysian clients’ trades on shares quoted in foreign bourses through Daiwa.

3. HON. MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE & INDUSTRY MALAYSIA, DATO’ SRI MUSTAPA MOHAMAD, updated the participants on the status of FDIs and trade between both countries; the Malaysian Government’s range of FDI incentives post-budget 2014, and propositions for Japanese companies to invest & do business in Malaysia vis-à-vis 2015 AEC.

4. In the PANEL DISCUSSION on “Deepening business collaboration –

Expectations and challenges in doing business through business cooperation among Japanese and Malaysian companies”, panelists made presentations as follows:

a)       “What Malaysia expects from Japan?” by Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Secretary General of the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA);

b)       Feasibility of New Businesses through Japan-Malaysia Collaborations by Mr. Joji Ikeshita, Managing Director, JETRO Kuala Lumpur;

c)       “Malaysia as the Strategic Location for Japanese Companies to Grow in ASEAN: The rise of Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as a Regional Hub” by Mr. Daniel Teng, Director-Strategy, Advisory & Services, InvestKL Corporation;

d)       Challenges and Business Strategy of Japanese Companies in Malaysia by Mr. Shuichi Yoshida, President of the Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Malaysia.

5. In PLENARY SESSION III entitled “New growth industries in Malaysia”, presentations were made:

a)       Business strategy for Malaysia in Japan by Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin, Chief Executive Officer, Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC);

b)       Strategic Investment for Renewable Energy in Sarawak, Malaysia by Mr. Shigetaka Misaka, Executive Officer, Deputy Manager of Specialty Products Business Div., Tokuyama Corporation;

c)       Greening of Sabah: Renewable Energy Options for the Future by Datuk Dr. Mohd. Yaakub Hj. Johari, J.P., Chief Executive, Sabah Economic Development & Investment Authority (SEDIA).

d)       Investment Opportunity in Kedah by Mr. Annuar Mohd. Saffar, Vice President (Industrial Development & Research), Kulim Technology Park Corporation Sdn. Bhd.

6. PLENARY SESSION IV was entitled:

“Japanese SME’s supply chain network in the ASEAN region and business cooperation with Malaysian companies”

Topics covered:

a)       Current situation of Japanese companies’ supply chain network in the ASEAN region and business opportunities in Malaysia by Mr. Naoki Nakano, General Manager, Asia and Oceania Global Advisory Department, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation;

b)       Positioning of Malaysia in our company’s supply chain management by Mr. Miki Yamamoto, Senior Managing Director, Honda Trading Corporation;

c)       Preparing Malaysian SMEs to tap into Japanese Companies’ Supply Chain by Dato’ Hafsah Hashim, Chief Executive Officer, SME Corporation Malaysia.

7. In CLOSING, the Co-Chairmen provided a summary of the day’s presentations and reiterated their willingness to discuss measures for realization of the Look East Policy Second Wave and other collaboration programmes that would provide tangible results.

From left to right: Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Tan Sri Azman Hashim, Dato’ Md Taib Abdul Hamid, Gen. Tan Sri Yaacob bin Mohd Zain.

From left to right: Mikio Sasaki,  President of JAMECA (at rostrum); Dato’ Hamzah Zainudin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia; Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Secretary-General, MAJECA; Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamad, Minister of International Trade & Industry Malaysia; Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA; Dato’ Sri Mohd  Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia; H.E. Shigeru Nakamura, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia; Kiyoshi Yamada, Secretary-General, JAMECA