Trade mission to Thailand, Myanmar

21 February 2012 , By Business Times

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed will lead a trade and investment mission to Thailand and Myanmar this week to identify business collaboration opportunities in selected sectors.

The minister, to be accompanied by 40 senior government officials and private sector representatives, will be in Bangkok from tomorrow until Thursday and in Myanmar on Thursday and Friday.

In a statement, the ministry said Mustapa will also be representing Ma-laysia at the 18th Asean Economic Ministers Retreat, which will be held on February 25 and 26 in Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar.

Both missions are aimed at strengthening Malaysia's trade, investment and economic cooperation with these two countries.

The mission will attempt to identify business collaboration opportunities in sectors such as the construction, infrastructure development, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, oil and gas.

At the retreat, the economic ministers are expected to review progress made in the implementation of measures to realise the Asean Economic Community (AEC) by 2015.

According to the ministry, the average implementation rate of the AEC Blueprint measures for the first (2008-2009) and second (2010-2011) phases is 75.6 per cent.

The ministers will also deliberate on new initiatives and ways to strengthen Asean economic integration beyond 2015.