Minister leads first GREAT week in southeast Asia - September 2014
Published 9 September 2014
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0.1 Detail
This GREAT Week follows on from a very successful GREAT Retail Fashion Campaign that Malaysia held last year.
Mr Shapps’ programme maximises his interaction with, and opportunities to support both the GREAT Week mission and those UK brands already in Malaysia that are also taking part. On day one, activities will include opening the GREAT Week with the Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism & Culture; and delivering welcoming remarks at the GREAT Week Welcome Reception featuring the launch of three new British brands in Malaysia, New Look, Lola Skye and Newen’s Tea House. Mr Shapps will also meet some major UK investors here in advance of seeing the Deputy Minister for International Trade and Industry. That will be followed by a meeting with the President of Genting Resorts, a major investor in the UK, who will be hosting the experience economy companies as a part of the GREAT mission programme.
On day two, after opening remarks at the Rail Business Asia conference, and a meeting with Chairman of the Malaysian Land Public Transport Authority to support our Transport HVO, Mr Shapps will meet with the Board of the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce to discuss progress with the Overseas British Network initiative. He will be opening the new Asia Pacific Regional office of the EIC. That evening, Mr Shapps will attend the GREAT BIG Pub Night featuring the launch of two new British drinks, Bombardier Beer and London Ice Tea.
On the morning of day three Mr Shapps will launch a British Food & Drink Fair held in Ben’s Independent Grocers for two weeks. BBC MasterChef Winner Ping Coombes will be present and guests will be able to sample Ping’s Fish & Chips – a fusion of the best of British with a Malaysian twist.
The Minister will then travel to Melaka to join the experience economy group for lunch with the missioners and join them to see a major new leisure development in the city. Later, he will meet and then share a platform with the Chief Minister of Melaka, YAB Datuk Seri Ir. Hj. Idris bin Hj. Haron at a networking dinner. This will be the first time a British Minister has visited Melaka in living memory.
Our commercial relationship with Malaysia is strong, and growing. There are high value opportunities in defence and transport (rail) worth £30.5bn. We are investing in oil and gas, financial sectors, manufacturing and high tech, and the creative industries. Malaysia is, amongst other sectors, a major property investor in the UK - the £8bn Battersea project is the best known, but there is much more.
0.2 Disclaimer
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