Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 28 May, 2007
China's Alternative Medicine And Malaysia's Biotech A Good Mix
By Mikhail Raj Abdullah
BEIJING, May 28 (Bernama) -- China's traditional strength in alternative medicine plus Malaysia's push in biotechnology presents a potent mix that can catapult bilateral trade now already reaching record levels to greater heights.
To exploit this, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz called on Malaysian biotechnology companies to join hands with research centres in China that specialised in developing agricultural and herb-based medicines.
"Combining the vast resources in Malaysia and the technical expertise from China can lead to substantial mutual benefits for both countries," she told more than 700 participants at a seminar on "Malaysia-China Business Opportunities" at the China World Hotel here.
Rafidah's call was timely as Kuala Lumpur had recently announced that it would allow some hospitals to provide traditional treatment and medicine alongside conventional medicine to Malaysia's increasingly health-conscious populace.
The minister is leading a high-powered trade and investment mission to Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou from May 25 to 31.
Members of the mission include Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Syed Norulzaman Syed Kamarulzaman, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority director-general Datuk R. Karunakaran, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Noharuddin Nordin and other government officials.
Present at the seminar were China's Assistant Commerce Minister Chen Jian, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce's Trade Development Department managing director Susan Yang, and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade vice chairman Yu Ping.
The seminar held here and another in Shangai last week have seen full-house attendance while almost 1,000 participants have signed up for the event in Guangzhou on Wednesday.
The large turnout not only indicated keen interest in Malaysia, but showed Rafidah's appeal to the business community in a nation with one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world.
Another area drawing heightened interest is the promotion of halal food and services, whereby Malaysia produces processed food and beverages which comply with Islamic requirements and meet international food quality, safety and health standards.
Since there are also many Chinese firms involved in food processing, partnerships with Malaysian companies could be established to enter markets in Islamic countries as well as those with a large Muslim population, Rafidah said.
While Muslims make up more than half of Malaysia's 27 million people, they are a minority in China, numbering about 60 million of the total populace of 1.3 billion people.
According to Rafidah, the franchise business has also been a successful foray for Malaysia, with many such companies now operating in Asean, South Asia, West Asia and China.
Franchising is an area with potential for Malaysia-China business partnership, she said.
Companies such as Marry Brown Fried Chicken, England Optical, Dave's Deli, Sugar Bun and Nelson's, which have ventured into China, are now ready to grow their businesses together with counterparts keen to start this business in Beijing, the minister said.
Other areas for franchising include education, fashion, food and beverages, hotels, optical wear, beauty and healthcare and travel services, she said.
Rafidah later witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding -- between iTopia Services Sdn Bhd and SuiFenHe Municipal People's Government on information technology, and another between Nelson's Franchise (M) Sdn Bhd and Beijing Nesco Trade Co Ltd on snack food.
-- BERNAMA
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