GATEWAY TO ASIA: The Sydney-based Mida director says Australian businesses are very interested to enter the Malaysian market as a strategic gateway to Asia.
MELBOURNE: Sydney-based Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) director, Ahmad Khairuddin Abdul Rahim, returns to Kuala Lumpur next week after ‘three wonderful and productive years’ in Australia.
Ahmad Khairuddin, who will take up a new position as director of Clean Technology and Environmental Management Division, said he would be leaving Australia with mixed feelings.
“I have been lucky to be posted to Australia. It’s a wonderful, dynamic country with lots of people doing interesting (business) things. Australia has a lot to share with us and Malaysia is blessed that we are so close to Australia,” he told Bernama.
Ahmad Khairuddin said his new role at Mida would be challenging because clean technology and environment management were the new frontiers for global sustainability and progress.
“I realise the importance of my work and I look forward to contributing to Malaysia’s 2020 vision. I hope my experience and my contacts in Australia, where clean technology and environment management is high on the Australian Government’s agenda, will help me sources good information and expert advice,” he said.
Ahmad Khairuddin, who is popularly known as ‘AK’, said Australian businesses were very interested to enter the Malaysian market as a gateway to Asia.
“They appreciate and acknowledge our stable government, they are comfortable about dealing with Malaysians who they find are business-friendly and we honour trade agreements,” he added.
Ahamd Khairuddin was one of the pioneer officers in the Services Division when Mida was mandated by the Malaysian government in 2004 to promote investment in the services sector.
He was confident the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which came into force on January 1 this year, would open new doors to Australian companies especially in the services sector.
“Australian companies have world-class expertise in healthcare, education, business services, oil and gas, clean technology, environmental management and research and development.
“Malaysia provides a conducive investment environment for Australian businesses to grow and prosper while making Malaysia a natural hub for the region,” he said.
Ahmad Khairudin said the Asian Century white paper, recently launched by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, “was a testimony on how important Asia is to Australia, and in this respect, Malaysia is an important component in the equation”. — Bernama