The business community of Germany’s Baden-Wurttemberg sees Malaysia as an attractive investment destination and is keen to invest here particularly in the high technology industry, says its Minister President, Stefan Mappus.
Mappus is leading a 150-member trade delegation from the German territory to Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore to promote greater cooperation in the high-tech industries.
“While preparing for this visit, it became very obvious that the business community in Baden-Wurttemberg had economic interest in Malaysia,” he said in an interview with Bernama and the Star here on Thursday.
He said the delegation to Malaysia was the first big delegation he was heading since being in office at the request of the industry.
Also present was German Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Guenter Georg Gruber.
Baden-Wurttemberg is the third largest territory among 16 territories in Germany and is one of the wealthiest regions in Europe with a traditionally low unemployment rate.
Its main economic activity is in the automotive, medical technology, aerospace, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
The delegation members’ interests are in the areas of renewable energy and everything connected with high-tech, green technology and health sectors, Mappus said.
He also said the delegation viewed the Asean countries as the biggest growth market of the future and therefore making their stake and presence here early on.
Mappus said some businesses from his region had already made their investments in Malaysia and that these companies were very satisfied with their investments.
They find Malaysia politically stable and offered future prospects for them, he said.
Mappus also paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at his office in Putrajaya yesterday.
Describing his meeting as very interesting, Mappus said among issues discussed included bilateral relations including enhancing economic and trade ties in high-technology industries.
“We talked about green technology, and high technology in general. I invited the prime minister to visit Baden-Wurttemberg.”
Mappus said Najib also informed him about the future development of Asean countries and its huge market of more than half a billion people.
“He is a very likeable prime minister,” he said.
Concurrent with his visit, the Baden-Wurttemberg Forum on Production Technology of the Future was also held here yesterday.
Mappus said feedback from the forum was highly satisfactory and added that coming on this trade mission to South East Asia was a right and timely decision.
The business delegation from Baden Wurttemberg left here for Vietnam this morning.
