Malaysian government is studying to allow travel for Chinese expatriates from green-lighted cities in China

By JOHARDY IBRAHIM
editor@dagangnews.com


KUALA LUMPUR 15 August - The Malaysian government is studying the possibility of allowing travel for Chinese expatriates from provinces or cities in China that have been green-lighted and approved according to the strict SOPs of the health authorities of both countries.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Lim Ban Hong said, this is due to the fact that China is geographically a large country.

According to him, the government will look into all aspects while actively exploring the possibility of allowing province-to-country travel which will further enhance the bilateral trade between both countries in the new normal.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic and US-China trade war have resulted in greater uncertainties for the global economy, there are also business opportunities that arise from the changes.

"For instance, the trade conflict has accelerated the restructuring and relocation of the global supply chain, whereby local industries have to restrategise in order to adapt to the new trend under the new normal," he said.

He was quoted during an official visit by the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) delegation led by its president Datuk Tan Yew Sing and Dato’ See Meng Geok and Dato’ Simon Wong at his office, recently.

"Malaysian government has relaxed the regulations on entry of expatriates into our country. Foreign professionals or key management personnels holding the Employment Pass Category 1 are allowed to enter the country but with strict compliance to the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) set by the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Health.”

Lim gave the example of the recently agreed Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL) between Malaysia and Singapore, which will allow travel across border for essential business and official purposes.

"The government is also looking into the possibility of introducing green travel bubble with China and other countries provided subject to the approval of the health authorities of both countries,” according to Lim.
 

Meanwhile, Tan Yew Sing as the president of MCCC said that the China people attach great importance to official policy support and economic and trade information. As a trade and economic bridge between the two countries, the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce will actively attract China enterprises to invest in Malaysia, including its small and medium-sized enterprises.

 “MCCC first ever cloud conference, the Malaysia-China Entrepreneurs Conference 2020 (MCEC 2020) which will be held in October 20th, will bring together elite leaders of various industries and investment agencies, and officials from government units to share forward-looking approaches, creating more possibilities for enterprises in Malaysia and China,” Tan added.

The MCEC 2020 Cloud Conference will also have an online business matching session for enterprises from both countries to seek new opportunities, to promote bilateral trade development and economic growth. MCCC will hold the online publicity within the next three months to provide information to enterprises, and Lim has been invited to be one of the speakers to the September online publicity. - DagangNews.com