Belgium–Malaysia relations

Belgium–Malaysia relations

Belgium	Malaysia

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.

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.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Foreign relations of Belgium
• Foreign relations of Malaysia

References

1. "Malaysian Aide in Belgium". The New York Times. 19 May 1968. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
2. "Belgian Businessmen". AsiaPulse News. 23 October 2000. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
3. "Malaysian Association of Belgium and Luxembourg". Malaysian Association of Belgium and Luxembourg. Archived from the original on 14 December 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
4. "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.
5. Peter Clarke (15 February 2006). "Belgian startup raises $7.1 miilion in Malaysia". EE Times. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
6. "Belgian firm upgrading Malaysia operation". The Star. 18 October 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
7. 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.
8. "Home". Malaysia Belgium Luxembourg Business Council. Retrieved 12 December 2017.