MALAYSIA: A COUNTRY NOT  YET WELL KNOWN 
BY ITALIAN ENTERPRISERS

 L'Ambasciatore della Malaysia, S. E. DATO’ SHAMSUDIN ABDULLAH  è stato recentemente invitato ad un seminario organizzato dalla  Federitalia Export-Import a presentare il suo paese sotto il profilo economico ed a illustrare le prospettive di collaborazione con l'industria italiana.
L'Ambasciatore, nel suo intervento, ha tracciato le linee fondamentali del mercato malaysiano  ove è maggiormente possibile avviare interessanti relazioni d'affari, ma ha espresso anche la sua amarezza e la sua delusione per aver constatato una certa mancanza di interesse dell'Italia verso il suo paese. Stralciamo dalla sua relazione in inglese  i passi salienti ove è sottolineata la sua preoccupazione e la sua speranza in un consolidamento delle relazioni tra i due paesi: 

Bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy remains cordial, but the relationship thus far has not produced real substance, perhaps due to lesser priority given by our respective government and business sectors to each other. Despite the enormous scope and potentials, no significant initiative has been undertaken by either side to expand and consolidate the relationship. I gather we are too busy and constraints by our own domestic problems. The matter has long be left aside due to our own indifference. We ought to take positive measures to overcome the situation and create ample opportunities that could benefit us. In this IT age, the increasing sophistication in communication technology and the new ideas about interdependance of nations in a borderless world, there are obviously opportunities and challenges galore in a reshaped Italian and Malaysian business ties. Both sides must accept the need to change and to seize the opportunities, if we wish to reap the benefit and succeed in the future. Italian and Malaysian businessmen must strenghten its networkings and forge strategic partnerships to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Bilateral trade and investment between Malaysia and Italy is relatively small and not up to the mark expected of us. There are still huge scope for improvement.
Italy and Malaysia had already signed the Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) on January 1984 and the Investment Guarantee Agreement (IGA) in January 1988 respectively.
Inspite of the numerous agreements signed, there is obviously a lack of political will on both sides to promote agressively business ties between the two sides.
Italy infact has not taken advantage of Malaysia's offer to the following:
Operation Headquarters (OHQ)
As of June 2000, 48 foreign companies have been approved to established OHQ in Malaysia. However there was none from Italy;
International Procurement Centre (IPC)
As of June 2000, 56 companies were granted IPC status, but none from Italy Multimedia Super Corridor at Cyberjaya;
As of August 2000, 362 IT companies have been granted Multimedia Super Corridor status including 37 world class international companies, none from Italy.
I believe it is still not too late for Italian companies to come to the fore and set up collaborations and partnerships with Malaysian as there is huge potential for expansion and consolidation of our business relations.
It is therefore essential and timely for me to appraise on the latest developments in the Malaysian economy and the opportunities that exist for trade and investments as well as other forms of economic cooperation between our two countries.