SHAH ALAM, Nov 10 — The state aims to become a strategic base for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Osaka, Japan, to expand into the ASEAN market, while attracting new investment and creating quality job opportunities.
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han said this was among the key areas of economic cooperation discussed with the Osaka prefectural government to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two sides.
The collaboration also aims to create opportunities for local companies in Selangor to enter the Japanese market by participating in the country’s supply chains.
“For this collaboration to be meaningful, it must deliver tangible benefits to both sides. This includes positioning Selangor as a base for Osaka’s SMEs to expand into ASEAN, while creating opportunities for Selangor companies to join Japanese supply chains,” he said in a Facebook post.
Ng added that the matter was discussed during a meeting with Osaka Prefectural Government Strategic Coordination Bureau director-general Shimizu Yoshiaki and his team during a working visit to Japan.
The Osaka delegation was also invited to attend the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) next year to explore broader economic cooperation opportunities.
Meanwhile, Invest Selangor Bhd, together with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), organised an investment roundtable in Osaka, bringing together 16 representatives from 10 companies and organisations.
The session included representatives from the electricity, battery, aluminium, and electrical equipment sectors, as well as banking institutions, consultancy firms, and business associations.
The councillor said that the participants expressed interest in Selangor after being briefed on the state’s advantages as an investment destination and the facilities provided by the state government and Invest Selangor.
Follow-up action will be taken to review each investor’s enquiries and requirements to realise the potential investments.
“Investor interest is only the first step. Our responsibility is to turn that interest into actual investments, and subsequently translate those investments into quality job opportunities for Selangor's residents," Ng said.
