I’m currently doing last minute planning for my visit to Malaysia and Singapore next week. I’m delighted to be leading a trade delegation of 15 North West companies to take advantage of the opportunities that exist there for exporters.
It’s always a particular pleasure for me to go back as I lived and worked in Malaysia and Indonesia in the 1990s and spent masses of time in Singapore. From the first Selamat Datang (welcome) said to me to the final Selamat Tinggal (farewell but normally said by the person leaving) I will love every minute. For a Brit travelling to Malaysia and Singapore, they would find it immediately recognisable even if a little quaint. My PA used to say, if I was out of the office “Mr Clive is out station” and you’ll find other examples of lovely use of what we would consider old fashioned English. But do not be fooled. This is not some sleepy backwater and economic growth is powering back, fuelled by a strong performance from the manufacturing sector. High tech and advanced manufacturing abounds and you’ll find some of the most advanced IT and telecommunications in the world.
South East Asia some 40 years ago started an economic bloc called ASEAN which now encompasses 10 countries representing nearly 600 million people. The combined economies amount to some $1.5 trillion of GDP (if you can possibly imagine that figure). While the UK needs to do all it can to grow its business in China, we should not overlook SE Asia with its British friendly businesses and with strong historic cultural (not just language) ties. Interestingly UK exports to ASEAN are nearly three times our exports to China showing that we are already successful but we can still do better in these lands of opportunity.
I will try to update you next week with what’s going on in Malaysia and Singapore through this blog. In the meantime, I say to those accompanying me on this visit Selamat Jalan (Have a safe journey).