Raab says UK is ‘open for business’ as it seeks deeper ties with South East Asia
The Foreign Secretary says the UK sees Malaysia as a key partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The UK sees huge trading opportunities in South East Asia and seeks to build a “new modern and dynamic” relationship with the region after leaving the European Union, the Foreign Secretary has said.
Dominic Raab said Britain sees Malaysia as a key partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and that he made clear in talks with his Malaysian counterpart, Saifuddin Abdullah, that “global Britain is open for business”.
He said the UK has appointed Jon Lambe as ambassador to the Jakarta-based ASEAN as it seeks to bolster ties with the region.
Mr Saifuddin said Malaysia believes “Brexit is not a hindrance but an opportunity” for both countries to explore new fields of co-operation.
The British embassy said medical device manufacturer Smith and Nephew is set to break ground this month on its first manufacturing plant in South East Asia in Malaysia’s northern Penang state. The plant will create up to 800 new jobs over five years in a boost to bilateral trade, which has hit £5 billion annually, it said.
Malaysia last month said it had sent back 150 containers of plastic waste to 13 mainly rich countries, including 42 containers to the UK, as it refused to become the world’s rubbish bin. Officials have said there are another 110 containers being held at port, including nine from the UK.
