GENTING HIGHLANDS: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has hoped the governments of Malaysia and China could further upgrade the existing ‘visa on arrival’ facility to ‘visa-free entry’ for nationals of the two nations.
Its President, Tan Sri T.C Goh was convinced that once implemented, it will attract more China investors and tourists to Malaysia, and ultimately help stimulate the domestic market, including the tourism sector, and a host of related industries like food and beverages, hotels and properties.
Goh, who is also Board Chairman of Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC) said this while speaking at the dinner hosted by the Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors’ General Association (MSCSPGA) in conjunction with its 76th anniversary celebrations cum swearing-in ceremony of its Central Committee, at the Genting International Convention Centre (GICC) here, on Thursday. He was representing Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing. Also in attendance were Wong Teu Hoon, President of MSCSPGA and his deputy *Kho Fong Yong,* among others.
Goh also expressed optimism that with the Covid-19 pandemic has subsided and all nations in the world had reopened their borders to travelers and visitors, almost all business sectors, including food and beverages business, too have started to gain momentum and are on the track of speedy recovery.
He then recalled that when tabling the Budget 2023 in February this year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had declared 2025 as ‘Visit Malaysia Year’, with a target of 23.5 million international arrivals and RM76.8 billion in tourism receipts.
He further expressed his optimism over the future prospects of the coffee shop and eateries sector in the country, by citing the fruitful outcome of the recent official visit of the Prime Minister to China, which secured investments worth RM 170 billion.
He thus hoped business operators in Malaysia could better prepare and upgrade themselves, in all aspects, in order to seize the opportunities which the China investments would bring, in time to come.
Goh went on to note that MSCSPGA which was established in 1947 is the highest institution for the coffee shop operators in Malaysia and Singapore. It currently has 45 affiliate members spread over Malaysia and Singapore. Out of this number, 43 of them are based in Malaysia and the remaining two in Singapore. The Association is industry-based, and is well-organised with strong liaison capability.
He recognized that what makes MSCSPGA unique and outstanding is its trans-border, inclusive characteristic of serving coffee shop operators operating in Malaysia and Singapore. He thus hoped the Association could continue to maintain such unique and outstanding characteristics, and to bring it to the next level.
He also observed that despite being a traditional industry, often passed down from one generation to another, the coffee shop business too has been evolving with time, with some coffee shop operators starting to incorporate modern technology and contemporary arts into the business to produce premium products.
“This essentially pushed the industry to the next level and also enriched the people’s life. Such is the great professionalism of its members and it is truly commendable!” he concluded.-pr/BNN
