Japanese investments to pour in soon Print
Friday, 10 December 2010 14:37

A NUMBER of fresh Japanese investments are expected to pour into Malaysia soon, covering several sectors.

Although no specific value was mentioned and to which sectors the potential investments would be made, Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horie said the investments will help gear up Japan's position as the number one foreign investor in this country.

"The investments are coming soon (early 2011). I am, at the moment, busy preparing for them," Horie told Business Times in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Trade between Japan and Malaysia in 2009 was worth RM100 billion and Horie expects it to increase this year, backed by the improving economic environment.
Earlier, Horie was briefing reporters on the increasing interest of Japanese retirees in Malaysia for their second home under The Malaysia My Second Home.

He said Malaysia is at the top of the list among the 10 countries with 16.6 per cent, beating Hawaii, Australia, Thailand, New Zealand, Canada, the Philippines, Indonesia, Spain and the US.

"Malaysia has been at the top since 2006 and we expect it will continue to be that way at the moment," he said.

Horie said there are currently 1,500 Japanese retirees who opt for the second home programme in Malaysia and expects the figures to rise by 10 per cent this year.

"Out of the 400,000 Japanese nationals that visited Malaysia in 2009, a total of 160,000, or 40 per cent, came as tourists," he said.

He cited eight factors that contribute to the rising interest among Japanese in Malaysia which include climate, political and social stability, warm weather, distance and multi-racial society.

Horie said with AirAsia X flying to and from Japan and Malaysia beginning December 9 and Malaysia Airlines opening up flight routes directly to Haneda Airport which is much nearer to Tokyo than Narita Airport, human traffic between the two countries will rise.

Read more: Japanese investments to pour in soon http://www.btimes.com.my/articles/masahiko/Article/#ixzz17sQgqGlK
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