Green economy, SME integration among key topics at CPTPP commission meeting

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DIGITAL and green economy and stronger integration of Malaysia’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into the global supply chain are among the key topics to be discussed at the 7th Commission Meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

According to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), the meeting will be held from July 15-16 July 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand, and the Malaysian delegation will be led by MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz (picture).

“Apart from the digital economy and green economy, MITI wants to ensure that the benefits from the CPTPP will trickle down to the Malaysian people and businesses, particularly the SMEs who must be better integrated into the global supply chain,” he said in a statement.

The meeting is also expected to see the addition of the United Kingdom as the 12th member of the pact, joining Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

During the meeting in New Zealand, the CPTPP ministers will continue their engagement to ensure the effective implementation of the CPTPP that was signed on March 8, 2018, in Santiago, Chile.

As the chair of the CPTPP for 2023, New Zealand is expected to drive the discussion on CPTPP priority areas of focus, notably advancing the green economy and enhancing digital economy facilitation, including customs administration and processes.

Tengku Zafrul is also scheduled to have bilateral engagement with counterparts from New Zealand, Canada and Japan to discuss trade and investment matters of mutual interest.