(From left) Sunway Group chief executive officer of Digital and Strategic Investments Evan Cheah, Sunway Group executive director of chairman's office Ong Pang Yen, Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia (EUD) deputy head Timo Goosmann and Embassy of Belgium in Malaysia deputy head of mission Pierrick Massaux during the signing ceremony between Sunway Group and EUD for the advancement of joint sustainability initiatives —SHAARI CHEMAT / THE STAR
PETALING JAYA: The European Union (EU) and Malaysia should take into account significant global changes over the last decade and evaluate the current situation before resuming the free trade agreement (FTA) talks, says the Delegation of European Union to Malaysia deputy head Timo Goosmann.
Back in 2010, an FTA was signed between the two parties, which was then put on hold after eight rounds of negotiations in 2012, at Malaysia’s request.
In March this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the time is now “ripe” for Malaysia to rekindle discussions on the Malaysia-EU FTA and that Europe will be able to capitalise on Malaysia as a gateway to Asia.
“The world has changed tremendously over the past decade, so I think for both sides, the EU and Malaysia, we have to learn and analyse the changes that have happened over the last few years,” he told the media after a signing ceremony between Sunway Group and the delegation of the EU to Malaysia at Sunway City, yesterday.
“I believe the EU and Malaysia have a lot to gain from an FTA.
“I am very optimistic that if we find a way to agree on the conditions to start these negotiations, then we can possibly find a good way on how to agree on a meaningful FTA that creates opportunities and prosperity for both sides,” Goosmann added.
