By Nasuha Badrul Huzaini
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — China has remained one of the top investors in Selangor with over RM6 billion in approved investments in the manufacturing sector since 2015, says Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
Aside from being Malaysia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 18.6 per cent of the total trade in 2020, the Menteri Besar said China is essential to the state in foreign direct investment (FDI).
“A large number of businesses and manufacturers are based in Selangor, and there is a huge potential and room for improvement in the Selangor-China relations.
“Selangor is the most developed state in the country and has contributed 24.3 per cent to the growth domestic product (GDP) in 2020,” said Amirudin in his welcoming remarks during the official ceremony of the eleventh Malaysia-China Entrepreneurs Conference (MCEC 2021) at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, here today.
Also present were state executive councillor for trade and investment Dato’ Teng Chang Khim, the People’s Republic of China Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing and Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) president Datuk Tan Yew Sing.
MCEC 2021 was held in conjunction with the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2021, which began on November 18 and ends today.
Meanwhile, Amirudin said the time has come for the state to accelerate its plan to make Selangor the first smart state in Southeast Asia.
“The plan will help Selangor to have the infrastructure needed to be recognised as Southeast Asia’s first Smart State, thus allowing the state’s citizens to make full use of the opportunities and technology-oriented ways of life.
“The state had planned for Selangor to be the region’s first smart state in 2016, and that idea has helped Selangor adapt to the pressing needs of Covid-19 through digitalisation,” said Amirudin, adding that the state’s annual summit is in line with the vision for Selangor to be Asean’s Premier Smart State by 2025.
