KOTA KINABALU: The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Social Republic of Vietnam to Malaysia, Pham Cao Phong and his entourage made a courtesy visit to UMS Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd (formerly known as UMS Link Holdings Sdn Bhd), a wholly-owned company by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
During the meeting, Pham and Group Chairman/Director of UMS Investment Holdings Datuk Awang Buhtamam Ag Mahmun and the representatives of Malay Chamber of Commerce of Malaysia (DPMM) Sabah Branch discussed the possibility of establishing business opportunities in the area of Small-Medium Enterprises, Tourism & Hospitality and Human Resources Development.
This included developing Halal Food industry in Vietnam and exploring opportunities in Oil and Gas Industry to enhance trade collaboration between the two countries (Malaysia – Vietnam) as non-tarrif barrier will be removed with the realization of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
The Vietnamese Ambassador also highlighted that Vietnam is the second largest exporter of rice in the world, as well as the second biggest exporter of coffee, tea and pepper in the world.
The Vietnam Government is providing certain tax incentives for investment in Vietnam as well as opening business with 100 per cent Malaysian ownership in Vietnam.
Awang Buhtamam, in his welcoming remarks, extended his gratitude to the Vietnamese Ambassador for his visit and expressed his aspiration to explore the lucrative industries as highlighted by the Ambassador and proposed other collaboration such as technology transfer between the Vietnam and Sabah.
Awang Buhtamam agreed in principle to organise small trade-expo in Sabah to explore more business lead or through formation of Joint Venture with Vietnamese Companies.
The Ambassador also invited UMS Investment Holdings to promote and recruit Vietnamese students keen to study at UMS, Sabah.
The Ambassador and his entourage were then invited and brought for a tour of UMS Campus (UMS IPMB Jetty, UMS-ODEC beach, Medical Faculty, Sports Complex), accompanied by Awang Buhtamam, some DPMM members and members of the Management of UMS Investment Holdings Sdn Bhd.