Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 8): International investors are confident in Malaysia’s economic potential, as well as the government’s ability to drive the nation’s economy forward, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.

Lim, who led a ministry delegation this week to meet and discuss with Japanese investors and senior government officials, said Malaysia continues to be an attractive investment destination for investors.

“They are confident that their investments will be used to grow Malaysia’s economy to the fullest,” he said in a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

The purpose of the Japanese trip was to promote Malaysia as a stable and high-potential investment destination, the ministry said.

It was also aimed at giving the international investing community confidence to take part in the forthcoming Samurai Bond issuance valued at 200 billion yen and guaranteed by the Japan Bank of International Cooporation (JBIC), the MoF said.

The roadshow was organised by Daiwa Markets Ltd (in collaboration with Affin Hwang Investment Bhd), HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd and Mizuho Bank (Malaysia) Bhd, as co-lead arrangers appointed by the finance ministry for the purpose of the bond’s issuance.

During the trip, Lim also met with Japan’s deputy prime minister and finance minister Taro Aso, and advisor to the prime minister and chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Hiroto Izumi.

“He conveyed the Malaysian government’s appreciation towards the Japanese government’s willingness to guarantee the Malaysian Samurai Bond via JBIC to reduce the interest cost of the loan.

“The Japanese government not only facilitated the bond’s issuance in a short span of time, they also opened up potential trade opportunities in other areas. Their meeting also discussed future directions in the relationship between the two countries, and opportunities to increase collaboration and investment in various strategic areas,” the MoF said.

The ministry added that the long-held close relationship and cooperation between the two governments is expected to develop further through this trip and deliver positive impact for all Malaysians.

MoF expressed the hope that the relationship between the two countries will attain great heights to that when the Look East policy was first introduced by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when Japan played a major role in Malaysia’s economic development at that time.

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