From July 31, 2023 to August 1, 2023, NCIA Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Hasri Bin Hasan and team, has visited Quanzhou to discuss on economic and trade exchanges and cooperation.

On the morning of July 31, 2023, Mr Hasri and his team visited the Quanzhou Urban Industry Reception Hall and held a discussion and exchange in the large training conference room of the Urban Industry Reception Hall and held a discussion with leaders of the Municipal Office (Investment Attraction Service Center), the Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as relevant business associations and business personnel.

At the symposium, the Municipal Bureau of Commerce gave an overall introduction to current updates on Quanzhou’s industrial development. The Foreign Affairs Office and the Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce then gave a detailed introduction to the situation of Quanzhou’s foreign business associations, and entrepreneurs on the status of cooperation throughout various industries.

The Malaysian representatives expressed their gratitude to the Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government for the warm arrangement and further shared relevant details regarding the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) and the preferential incentives in promoting investment within NCER.

On the afternoon of July 31, 2023, NCIA visited Shishi Southeast Asia Procurement Distribution Center, Shihu Port Bonded Logistics Center, Shihu Port, and carried out cooperation and exchanges with Shishi Municipal Government and the Bureau of Commerce.

Logistics Center, Shihu Port, and carried out cooperation and exchanges with Shishi Municipal Government and the Bureau of Commerce.

On the afternoon of August 1, 2023, NCIA visited Yihui Oil Painting, Peng Xiang Industry, Yingliang No. 5 and other pan-furniture industries in Nan’an and carried out discussions and cooperation with the Nan’an Municipal Government and the Bureau of Commerce.

Mr. Hasri noted that the cultural and tourism elements in the urban area of Quanzhou City are similar to those in Penang, Malaysia, and that cross-border tourism between the two countries should be strengthened. Jinjiang Food has a good fit with Malaysia Halal Food and has great potential for further development.

On similar note, Jinjiang Inland Port has major resemblance to the Perlis Inland Port in the state of Perlis Malaysia.

Southeast Asian cross-border e-commerce and logistics are relevant for Malaysia-China collaboration, meanwhile Nan’an building materials can be used for development and construction in northern Malaysia. Quanzhou, China can reap numerous benefits from Malaysia’s business transit hub to connect with the global industrial supply chain.

NCIA will further work together with Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government to discuss opportunities of cooperation in forming a strategic cooperation with the Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government to further promote trade development between NCER and Quanzhou.

Professor Dr. Albert Chen Yong Quan, CEO of Malaysia’s “Asia Pacific Finance Think Tank” and Asia Pacific Economic Review (APER) Magazine, said that Quanzhou City has the right attributes to catalyze the advantage for the manufacturing, branding, marketing, culture and tourism sectors of China’s private special economic zones.

With the capability to connect with Malaysia’s processing and re-export trade hub, Quanzhou’s industrial chain builds on the capability to extend and further assist Quanzhou’s industrial development and transformation. Subsequently this will further enrich the “Jinjiang Experience”.

Professor Dr. Chen recommends laying the foundation for the establishment of the Quanzhou National Free Trade Zone Malaysia Park, and at the same time establish Quanzhou Overseas Logistics Warehouse in Malaysia as a supporting platform for high quality cooperation between Malaysia and China.

Marcus Chia Zeng Yik, the Managing Director and CEO of Rand Development Sdn. Bhd, said that the number of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) in Malaysia accounted for 98.5%, meanwhile Micro, Smal and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Malaysia accounted for 77% of the total number of enterprises. A collaboration between NCIA and Quanzhou will be able to drive the connectivity of the private enterprises (SME & MSME) between Quanzhou and NCER creating business opportunities for the Malaysian enterprises through better infrastructure that leverages sharing markets, joint construction efforts, and information sharing.