Greetings to all,

Malaysia has infrastructure and logistics on par with Hong Kong and Singapore
and offers a significantly lower cost advantage compared with the two
destinations for regional establishments, stated Malaysian International Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) Executive Director, Stewart Forbes.

Malaysia's other attributes include a ready pool of talents, proficiency in
English and an excellent quality of life for expatriates, according to Forbes.

Numerous other corporate leaders have also concurred with his views. David
Prosser, the Chief Financial Officer of UK-based Fitness First, which had
relocated its regional headquarters (RHQ) from Hong Kong to Malaysia in 2003,
said office space and staff costs were 30% lower at its RHQ in a prime area in
Petaling Jaya, Selangor compared with what they had been in Hong Kong.

As such the company was able to save RM3 million (₤500,000) a year just by
shifting five management staff from Hong Kong to Malaysia.

Bas de Jonge, the Global Business Development Director of Netherlands-based
Quintiq, which has also established its Asia Pacific Development Centre and its
Southeast Asia Regional Head Office in Kuala Lumpur, attributed the key factors
that have positioned Malaysia as one of the best locations for investments to
the country's vibrant ICT industry; a well-educated, skilled and multilingual
workforce; international-class infrastructure, attractive and competitive
destination for business with strong government support in terms of fiscal and
non fiscal incentives per NST.

In addition, the cost of setting up operations in Malaysia is also substantially
lower than in Hong Kong or Singapore. While, Malaysia's cost are higher compared
to countries like China and Vietnam, however, taking into consideration the
overall package including political and social stability, Malaysia offers the
most favourable deal for foreign investors, according to de Jonge.

Quintiq is a leading player in advanced planning and scheduling solutions.

Translating the significant cost savings in terms of cost per workstation, DTZ
Golbal Occupancy Survey 2009 showed Kuala Lumpur's cost per workstation is just
US$3,820 (RM13,485) a year compared with Hong Kong's US$21,930 (RM77,413) and
Singapore's US$16,540 (RM58,386) or just 17.4% of the cost in Hong Kong and 23%
of the cost in Singapore, according to Brian Koh, the Executive Director
(Investment) of DTZ Nawawi Tie Leung Sdn Bhd, a property consulting company.

Koh said multinational companies relocating their RHQs to Malaysia would also
see savings in employment cost, cost of accommodation and living allowance while
their expatriates would enjoy a less stressful lifestyle and quality of life. In
addition, the expatriates would have easy access to private and international
schools for their children unlike in Hong Kong where there is a long queue for
places, he added.

Meanwhile, US-based Grey Advertising Group, which first entered Malaysia in
1986, has expanded its Malaysian operations to become the Group's regional
centre. Grey Advertising Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, James R. Heekin
said its Malaysian market "is as important as that of China and India" with Grey
Malaysia emerging as one of its major base in Asia with a strong new business
track record for the past six to 12 months, despite the global downturn.

Malaysia which is focused on developing the services sector, which includes the
setting up of regional establishments, would continue to provide the necessary
support to make the country the preferred destination for RHQs or Operational
Headquarters (OHQs) including 100% ownership of their operations in Malaysia.

The Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA), which has been entrusted
to promote the services sector, has designated the Logistics and Regional
Operations Division to assist investors keen on setting up operations in the
country.

Besides RHQs or OHQs, Malaysia is also encouraging companies to set up
International Procurement Centres (IPCs), Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs),
Representative Offices (REs) and Regional Offices (ROs)

As at the end of 2008, there were 2,600 approved regional establishments in the
country, including 160 OHQs, 209 IPCs, 19 RDCs, 701 ROs and 1,511 REs. Of the
160 OHQs, 32 were from the US, 14 from Japan, 13 from Germany, 12 each from the
UK and Netherlands and 10 from Australia.

Among the other major MNCs with OHQs in Malaysia include General Electric, Dow
Chemicals, Du Pont, IBM, Intel, Kellogs, Sharp Electronics, Nippon Electric
Glass, BASf, Siemens, Bayer, Ansell, IBA Health, Michelin, Norvatis and Volvo.

DK Malaysia promotes investment, business
opportunities, trade, travel and tourism in Malaysia and assists
MIDA, MITI, MATRADE and Tourism Malaysia achieve their goals and
objectives. One of the most effective Malaysia promotion tools is our
Linkedin Malaysia, Friends of Malaysia and other blogs and numerous
RSS feeds.

I look forward to hearing from all of you and have a
great day. Remember, Now is a good time to Visit Malaysia!

All the best,

Fred Plimley
President - DK Malaysia Development, LLC
Host/Moderator - Linkedin Malaysia
f.plimley@...
http://www.linkedin.com/in/fredplimley
(951) 243-3602
(+44) 020 7193 7317
Skype ID: fredplimley