PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians should take up the challenge to become entrepreneurs and seize the business opportunities cropping up in the country recently.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said this was mainly due to the country's close relationship with various countries especially business giant, China which has opened huge business potential.
"Malaysia has trade relationships with 60 countries which brought in a total trade of RM850 billion a year - the largest chunk came from China.
"So people in Malaysia should grab every opportunities they can get to venture into the global market especially China.
"China will be easy to do business as both countries have many similarities such as language and culture, making communications easy. That is how we have been able to penetrate China successfully for many years," he told reporters today.
With the participation of Malaysia in the Belt Road Initiative (BRI), he said Malaysia would see more international trade being conducted in the region.
Wee was met at the launching of the 7th Malaysia-China Entrepreneur Conference (MCEC) today.
The annual event since 2011 is a platform for business representatives to share on the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution, joint development and shared benefits from enterprises.
The MCEC focuses on business matching aiming at 7 core areas of property and construction, agriculture, technology, services, manufacturing, halal product and healthcare, which are pertinent in exploring business opportunities with China.
For eight consecutive year since 2009, China continued to be Malaysia's largest trading partner.
Last year, Malaysia's trade with China increased by 4.4 per cent to RM240.91 billion.
Adding further, Wee said with establishment of Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ), more small and medium enterprises will be created to capitalise on the convergence of exponential growth of the internet economy and cross-border e-commerce activities.
"DTFZ will enable us to increase our local talents, expertise and productivity. We cannot rely on foreign workers," he added.
He also urged Malaysians to equip themselves with the right and sufficient knowledge and education such as data analysis and artificial intelligence as the country's moving towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0).