Malaysia welcomes investment from companies eyeing AEC

Malaysia is ready to provide support for companies to capitalise on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as it is already the preferred hub for many global companies planning to expand into Southeast Asia, said Minister of International Trade and Industry, Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed.

“As Southeast Asia's economic growth flourishes, attention on ASEAN as a competitive and lucrative marketplace, providing access to over 630 million consumers, is rising. We have recently introduced the Principal Hub Scheme to facilitate and incentivise international companies who want a business-friendly launchpad to expand into ASEAN. In addition, our advanced integration levels in the AEC are an important bridge to strengthen trade links and economic ties with our ASEAN neighbours so that we can leverage on the rising demand for seamless interconnectivity that is vital for doing business successfully today,” he said.

"Malaysia adopts an ecosystem approach whereby concerted efforts have been put in place to promote the entire value chain of industry clusters and enhance delivery enablers to support the value chain. A strong and comprehensive ecosystem improves production and logistical efficiency; reduces the cost of doing business and supports greater flow of trade and investment. The importance of the ecosystem approach is further entrenched in the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP). Under the 11MP, we will continue to ensure that there is a significant leap in investment activities. This ultimately contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of the country and improving the country’s attractiveness for FDI.”

The minister noted that ASEAN has a part to play. “As the region seeks to deepen a nd widen trade ties under the AEC to capture a greater share of global trade, it is essential for ASEAN to work on strengthening and aligning structural reforms related to ease and certainty of doing business, regulatory and legal frameworks, as well as financing and investment facilitation measures across the region,” he added.

“The private sector will continue to be a key driver for the AEC’s realisation and we must now look to implementing long-term strategies, plans and projects, with the due consideration and involvement of industry, government and civil society in the planning and decision-making process," commented Dato' Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

2013 Toyota FJs recalled in Qatar

The Qatari Ministry of Economy and Commerce has recalled the 2013 models of Toyota FJ SUV due to a defect in the steering column and will work with the Toyota Qatar to address the defect.

A Qatar News Agency report said the move is in line with efforts to make sure that car dealers comply with regulations concerning maintenance of vehicles and fixing of defects as well as its remit to protect consumer rights.

Singapore is on standby to act on Ebola

Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) has gone beyond WHO recommendations for Ebola virus disease (EVD), which it says it has already put in place as part of its preparedness plan against EVD. It is also ready to calibrate its measures as the situation evolves.

As recommended, the ministry is raising the awareness and knowledge of travellers about the potential risk of EVD. "Information on EVD has been provided to the public and potential travellers on MOH’s website, and in its media release issued on 7 August. Singaporeans have been advised to avoid non-essential travel to affected areas. Instructions have also been provided on precautions to take if there is a need to travel to affected areas," the ministry stated in a release on 8 August.

At the same time, all medical practitioners and hospitals have been alerted, through professional circulars, to the EVD situation in West Africa. "They are advised to remain vigilant to pick up cases of EVD early amongst patients with compatible symptoms and a travel history to affected areas. MOH has also provided guidance on the criteria for defining suspect EVD cases, and on how to notify MOH of such cases," the ministry said.

Singapore is no stranger to preparedness procedures for infectious diseases since dealing with SARS in 2003. According to the Ministry of Health, all public hospitals have put in place infection control procedures in the event of an imported EVD case. Processes have also been put in place include:

• Sending samples for EVD testing at the National Public Health Laboratory’s designated testing facilities. 
• Centralising the management of suspect cases of EVD in Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Suspect cases who are seriously ill will be transported in specially configured ambulances, and all suspect cases will be managed in negative pressure isolation rooms with strict infection control procedures.

Contingency plans are also in place at Singapore's Changi Airport to manage passengers with signs of EVD. In 2013, Changi saw 53.7 million passengers arriving and departing. Such passengers will be isolated and transferred using a portable medical isolation unit (PMIU) to TTSH for further management.

Precautionary measures in Singapore's preparedness against EVD over and above the WHO recommendations include border health measures as well as contact tracing and quarantine. MOH has worked with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Changi Airport Group (CAG) on border health measures. Individual health advisory notices (HANs) have been distributed to nationals from the affected areas at air and land checkpoints since 2pm on 7 August 2014.

The HAN advises travellers to consult a doctor early, and inform the doctor of their travel history if they become unwell, with sudden onset of high fever, stomach pains, diarrhoea, vomiting, rash or bleeding, within three weeks of being in any of the affected areas in West Africa. Similar advice is provided in Health Advisory posters at land and air checkpoints, which have been progressively put up from 8 August.

The MOH says it has been ready to conduct contact tracing in the event of a confirmed case of EVD since the beginning of the outbreak in West Africa. All close contacts will be quarantined and monitored for up to 21 days, either in their homes or in the Government Quarantine Facility (GQF) in Pasir Ris.

Read about the WHO announcement here.

India's preparedness measures are here.

India to get India Inclusive Innovation Fund

A proposal by India's Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to set up a dedicated fund to promote grass-root innovations with social returns as well as modest economic returns has been approved by the Cabinet. The information was given by the Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Kalraj Mishra, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

The for-profit India Inclusive Innovation Fund is expected to back enterprises developing innovative solutions primarily for citizens who lie in the lower half of India’s economic pyramid, with limited physical and institutional access to basic services. The proposed size of the fund is a minimum of Rs500 crore and a maximum of Rs5,000 crore. 

Other schemes that the MSME has implemented include the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Credit Guarantee Scheme, Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS), National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme, Cluster Development Programme, Marketing Development Assistance, Skill Development Programmes, and International Cooperation Scheme.