MALAYSIA and Hong Kong have agreed to collaborate in the field of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as well as the economy for mutual benefit.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said it was agreed upon during his meeting with Hong Kong’s chief executive John Lee yesterday (May 23).
Zahid is on his first official visit to China since assuming the position of DPM in December 2022, and the visit, which began yesterday until June 1, is at the invitation of Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang.
“In Hong Kong, several polytechnics and TVET technical schools have been very successful in conducting courses, especially in emerging fields that are also being explored and initiated in Malaysia.
“They are ready to assist, which involves sending our educators to receive training in Hong Kong, followed by exchange student programmes,” he told Malaysian journalists yesterday.
A total of 500 Malaysian students are studying at universities in Hong Kong, with 95 percent being scholarship recipients.
The rural and regional development minister said the discussions also included the establishment of a trade and economy office by the Hong Kong government in Kuala Lumpur, as well as efforts to increase the involvement of fund managers from Hong Kong in Bursa Malaysia.
“They have agreed to establish a trade and economy office in Kuala Lumpur, and its purpose is to facilitate business transactions, administrative matters, and financial affairs in Malaysia because, in Hong Kong, we (Malaysia) have a consulate general office to facilitate all matters.
“After more than a year and a half of the Madani governance in Malaysia, we see that the level of confidence and marketability sentiment has increased, and I take this opportunity to invite fund managers in Hong Kong to participate in boosting transactional activities on our stock exchange,” said Zahid.
He stated that the meeting also touched on tourism aspects with the government planning to increase the number of flights for tourists from Hong Kong to Malaysia.
“There has been an increase of more than 1,200% in tourist arrivals from Hong Kong to Malaysia. These tourists are not only heading to Kuala Lumpur but also Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak… thus three airlines from Hong Kong have initiated these flights.
“The Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry and the Transport Ministry are handling this,” he added.
Moreover, Zahid claimed that Islamic tourism and the halal industry were also discussed.
“I provided some indications to assist them, especially through Muslim associations in Hong Kong for halal certification, and follow-up actions that can be carried out by the Halal Development Corporation and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia,” he further added. – May 24, 2024
