Asean a youthful market

The Star, Friday, 9 January 2015

By: LEW KAI PING

KUALA LUMPUR: With close to 60% of the population under 40 years old, Asean is
an attractive avenue for foreign direct investments, said International Trade and
Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed at the First Asean Malaysia Young
Entrepreneurs Forum.
Countries with younger population have more opportunities, he said yesterday.
Mustapa said youths would play an important role in increasing Malaysias
prominence and ensuring that Aseans objectives were achieved.
He added that English was important in order for a businesses to succeed as it
could help to overcome language barriers.
English is an Asean language, he said.
Mustapa also launched the Malaysian Association of Asean Young Entrepreneurs
(MAAYE), an offshoot of Asean conceived by Malaysia.
The purpose of the association will be to connect young Malaysian entrepreneurs
with other young Asean entrpreneurs through official and regulated channels and
to promote business skills, services, and innovation.
Furthermore, it will create awareness among young entrepreneurs about the Asean
Economic Community (AEC) and promote business opportunities within member
countries.
The other Asean countries will also have an equivalent association which will work
closely together with MAAYE.

Mustapa also discussed the importance of leveraging the services of the Malaysian
Business Councils which are present in Asean member countries. These councils,
he said, were led by Malaysian business leaders with firsthand experience in
conducting business in the relevant country.
As Malaysia is the chairman of Asean for 2015, Mustapa said the objectives for this
year would be to promote Asean and Malaysia to the international market.
Additionally, forums will be held to explain trade opportunities present in all the
other Asean countries and facilitate networking and the sharing of ideas between
them and Malaysia.