Belgium–Malaysia relations
Belgium–Malaysia relations refers to foreign relations between Belgium and Malaysia. Belgium has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Brussels.
Belgium |
Malaysia |
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History
In 1968 Malaysia's Deputy Premier and Defence Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, toured the Belgian Navy mine school.[1]
Economic relations
In 2000, a trade mission from Wallonia, was interested in joint-venture partners with Malaysian industry. Silvana Flagothier, the head of the delegation said: "We are convinced that Malaysia is a very good base to establish representative office and joint-venture".[2] In 2001, the Malaysian Association of Belgium and Luxembourg was formed by the Embassy of Malaysia in Brussels.[3] In 2002, Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz said Belgium could serve as a "gateway for Malaysian companies venturing into the European market, while Malaysia can serve as the competitive springboard for Belgian companies entering the East Asian markets".[4] In 2006 Essensium NV, a computer chip manufacturer raised US$7.1 million from Atlantic Quantum Sdn. Bhd. of Malaysia.[5] In 2007, Vanbreda International of Belgium chose Malaysia as its global operations centre.[6]
In 2016, Malaysia ranks 11th among the biggest buyers of Belgian potatoes with a spending of RM306 million (€64.5 million) on 65,718 tonnes of imported potato fries, of which 9,689 tonnes were from Belgium.[7] There is also a Malaysia Belgium Luxembourg Business Council.[8]
Notable Belgian companies that operate in Malaysia are Oleon, Lhoist, Materialise NV, Puratos, Victor Buyck Steel Construction, Vyncke and DPO International.
References
- "Malaysian Aide in Belgium". The New York Times. 19 May 1968. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- "Belgian Businessmen". AsiaPulse News. 23 October 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- "Malaysian Association of Belgium and Luxembourg". Malaysian Association of Belgium and Luxembourg. Archived from the original on 14 December 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- "Rafidah: Belgian firms can use KL as regional base". Business Times. 26 February 2002. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- Peter Clarke (15 February 2006). "Belgian startup raises $7.1 miilion in Malaysia". EE Times. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- "Belgian firm upgrading Malaysia operation". The Star. 18 October 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- Ooi Tee Ching (27 September 2017). "Belgium hopes to ship in more frozen potato fries to Malaysia". New Straits Times. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- "Home". Malaysia Belgium Luxembourg Business Council. Retrieved 12 December 2017.