KUALA LUMPUR: The EUMalaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EUMCCI) has appointed Sven Schneider as chief executive officer (CEO), effective March 30.
EUMCCI said Schneider played a significant role in bridging the gap between Malaysia and the European Union by promoting Selangor as a key investment destination in Asean.
As Invest Selangor Bhd corporate communication and strategic planning as well as trade and investment and strategic planning director, Schneider has been an architect of the state’s development ecosystem and investment promotion strategies.
“In recognition of EUMCCI’s mission to promote, support and develop EU business interests in
Malaysia and strengthen bilateral relations, the board has given Sven the mandate to re-ignite the conversation on the EU-Malaysia free trade agreement,” said EUMCCI chairman Oliver Roche in a statement.
EUMCCI said it aimed to enhance collaboration with the Malaysian government this year and to further grow European investments and trade.
“In this context, the board intends to strengthen the chamber’s advocacy work through its vast member base (1,600 members) in concerted collaborations with bilateral chambers and EUMCCI’s thematic committees.
“Most importantly, EUMCCI will focus on its members and core businesses by providing more opportunities through business matching events and collaborations,” it said.
Schneider said the chamber planned to announce strategic partnerships and some exciting initiatives early in his tenure to position the chamber as a leading platform for investment and trade facilitation into Malaysia and Asean.
EUMCCI represents 27 EU member countries together with their bilateral chambers, thereby offering access to a market worth US$18.8 trillion, or 22 per cent of the global economy.
EU companies invested RM3.1 billion in Malaysia from January to September last year and remain key trading partners for the country, and contributed to 9.2 per cent of Malaysia’s total trade in that period.
“Since trade has slightly slowed last year, EUMCCI believes that trade and investment activities would benefit considerably from the promise of a free trade agreement,” it said.
Sourced by New Straits Times
