International strategic communications company Rothman and Roman Intelligence Unit lead researcher Nora Hajdu told StarBiz that in 2019, FDI from CEE into Malaysia stood at €24.3bil and this value is expected to grow significantly over the next few years.
“As the perception of Asian economies shifts towards being more innovative and technologically advanced, Malaysian businesses may need to adapt and innovate in order to remain competitive in the global market. This includes the signing of trade agreements between Malaysia and individual CEE countries or the European Union as a whole which could facilitate and boost bilateral trade.
As CEE countries develop and increase consumer spending power, she said Malaysian exporters would have the opportunity to tap into these markets. These comprehensive endeavours encompass a spectrum of measures, including trade promotion activities, dynamic business forums, enticing incentives for exporters, and the optimisation of trade procedures for seamless transactions,” she said.
The CRS, which was conducted three times between January 2021 and January 2023, among others, revealed that the perceptions of consumers from the CEE region towards Asian economies have undergone significant changes.