KUALA LUMPUR: A recent partnership signed between Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in the Prime Minister’s Department and Oxford Business Group (OBG) is slated towards building Malaysia’s credentials as an investment hub within the international business community.Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said that the collaboration with OBG would complement objectives within EPU’s, a unit in which he is charge of, to push Malaysia’s socio-economic development forward and strengthen its international competitiveness, a press statement said.
“There is no doubt that OBG’s forthcoming report will play a key role in attracting potential investors to Malaysia as we make important changes to the economy to achieve our Vision 2020,” he said.
Yakcop was present to witness the exchange of memorandum-of-understanding (MoU) between EPU, represented by its director-general Datuk Noriyah Ahmand and OBG’s country director Laura Herrero at the unit’s office in the Prime Minister Department, Putrajaya on Tuesday.
Noriyah commented, “With the government now channelling its efforts into the 10th Malaysia Plan, it is especially important that players on the global business scene have accurate, credible data which they can use to make their investment decisions. I am confident that OBG’s new report will provide information of this calibre.”
Concurring with Noriyah, Herrero said EPU’s contribution to OBG’s ‘The Report: Malaysia 2010’ would prove invaluable as the group’s team has begun its task of compiling economic intelligence for the business guide, due to be published next year.
“I am delighted that the EPU will be on board for our fifth annual report on Malaysia’s economy, particularly in an important year with the new administration and key structural changes being made to enhance Malaysia’s competitiveness and develop new engines of growth,” she said.
“EPU has a broad scope of responsibilities and expertise, which include economic planning and research. These are all themes that OBG will explore in its new report and I am confident that by pooling resources with the EPU, the international business community will be given a clear picture of the investment opportunities available in Malaysia.”
OBG has already collaborated with other key local research partners including Malaysian Industrial development Authority (MIDA) and Russell Bedford LC and Company. The Report: Malaysia 2010 will serve to reinforce OBG’s place as the global leader in providing accurate and insightful economic information on developing and emerging economies across the continents.
Rated as the premier source of information for foreign direct investment into Malaysia’s economy, the highly-awaited report will be a vital guide to the many facets of the country including its macro-economics, infrastructure, political landscape, banking and sectoral developments. The report will be available in print form or online.