3 MOU’s between South Africa and Malaysia
21 February 2014
Soon after South African President Jacob Zuma’s visit to Malaysia in August 2013, the countries signed 3 MOU’s in the fields of defence, animal husbandary technology and the automotive sector.
Charge de Affairs a.i of Malaysia to SA, Mr Zahairi Baharim spoke of historical links between South Africa and Malaysia that go back 300 years to colonial times. He was speaking at a business networking session which preceded the MOU signing ceremony at the High Commission of Malaysia in Pretoria, South Africa.
Referring to the 20 Years of Diplomatic Relations between the two countries, he said Malaysia was once the largest investor in South Africa from the Asian region. However, due to the Asian financial crises in the late nineties, some Malaysian companies have had to withdraw their operations from South Africa in order to consolidate their position in Malaysia. The signing of these MOU’s was to reignite the business relations between the two countries and to elevate it to higher levels in the hope that it will be the stepping stone to make Malaysia among South Africa’s top partners from Asia.
In his presentation, Mr Masri Idris, Economic Councilor at the Malaysian High Commission, described the development of the Malaysian economy from an agricultural basis to a high technology, high capital and high knowledge driven economy. He pointed out that today manufacturing and the services sector are bulk contributors to the GDP. He said South African companies, particularly in the automotive and agricultural sectors would find many opportunities in Malaysia.
Major Zailani Safari, Director at the Technology Depository Agency (TDA) for the Malaysian Industry Government group for High Technology (MIGHT) made a presentation on the 8X8 AWV Offset Program. The program ensures that national procurement worth more than 50 million Malaysian ringgit supports the country’s development objective.
CEO of Denel, Ismail Dockrat (r) and COO of Strand Naguib Mohd Nor (l)
The three MOU’s signed are between Strand Aerospace Malaysia and Denel Aerostructures SA; ETD Makmur (Malaysia) and Embryo Plus (SA); and Miyazu (Malaysia) and Intsimbi National Tooling (SA).
CEO of Denel, Ismail Dockrat and COO of Strand Naguib Mohd Nor said the agreement opens doors for both parties to explore opportunities for technology transfer and human capital development. It will also see both organisations jointly pursuing new market opportunities in Asia and Africa, specifically in tooling design and aircraft structural engineering.
Chief Executive Robert Williamson of Intsimbi (r) and CEO of Miyazu Amrizal Abdul Majid (l)
Chief Executive Robert Williamson of Intsimbi and CEO of Miyazu Amrizal Abdul Majid acknowledged that the MOU will allow Miyazu a presence in South Africa and also expand its business while Intsimbi will benefit from the technology transfer.
Dr Morne de la Rey of Embryo Plus (r) and Executive Chairman Dr Haji Ahmed Kamal Zakaria of ETD Makmur(l)
Cooperation in breeding technologies of livestock species was the unique collaboration in husbandary technology signed by two emerging entrepreneurs, Dr Morne de la Rey of Embryo Plus and Executive Chairman Dr Haji Ahmed Kamal Zakaria of ETD Makmur.
These offset arrangements are another step towards deepening bilateral ties between South Africa and Malaysia and creating more business, trade and investment opportunities.