The following article is from Business Times Malaysia (http://www.btimes.com.my/). Consul Khairuddin of MIDA Sydney kindly sent us the article.
2010/04/21
THERE is no reason why Malaysia cannot move up the competitiveness ranking globally to be among the top 20 countries, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said yesterday.
In the latest global competitiveness report 2009-2010, Malaysia is 24th among 133 countries.
The 23 countries that are ahead of Malaysia are mainly developed countries which include Asian countries such as Singapore (3rd), Japan (8th) and Taiwan (12th).
"With the launch of the Government Transformation Programme and the New Economic Model, there would be radical changes to propel the country to be among the most competitive globally.
"We are not there yet but we will be with all the goals set forth, Malaysia can be in the top 20s in a couple of years along with productivity enhanced through innovation and creativity," Mustapa said at the launch of the two-day 52nd Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) Governing Body Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
He said future growth for the country must come from higher productivity, nurtured by more innovative processes as well as supported by strong private investments and talents.
Among the regional APO member countries, Malaysia's productivity level was US$12,793 (RM41,065), Thailand US$4,596 (RM14,753), China US$3,734 (RM12,023), the Philippines US$3,192 (RM10,246), Indonesia US$2,471 (RM7,931) India US$2,051 (RM6,583).
Mustapa said the gap in productivity level between the developed countries and member countries indicates that there is potential for growth and the initiatives by APO will augur well to ensure development.
"Malaysia will continuously strive to enhance productivity growth through talent development, adoption of sophisticated technology, higher innovation capacity and capabilities as well as higher value creation through intensified research and development," he explained. - Bernama
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Cr Graham Quirk's 25th Anniversary Dinner, 19th April 2010
Since the AMBCQ began in 2006, Cr Graham Quirk, Councillor for MacGregor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Brisbane, has been very supportive of our organisation, and has been at each one of our annual fundraising balls. He has also been instrumental in organising sponorship for our activities from the Brisbane City Council and other support. So when we received the invitation to help celebrate Cr Quirk's 25th anniversary in office, we did not hesitate to support Cr Quirk. We certainly weren't the only ones who felt this way, as there were over 300 people there on the night, held at Michael's Oriental at Eight Mile Plains.
There were many political heavyweights there on the night, including Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, who paid a very sincere and strong tribute to Cr Quirk, the leader of the opposition in Queensland and fellow AMBCQ member, John-Paul Langbroek MP, many Brisbane City Councillors, a number of former state and federal MPs, Senator Brett Mason, former Lord Mayor Sally-Anne Atkinson, and even Mayor of Ipswich, Paul Pisasale (a former AMBCQ president during the 1990s). And there were a great multitude of community groups, like ourselves, business people and other supporters present as well.
As part of our contribution to the night, the AMBCQ also donated a special auction item. Cr Quirk, as anyone who has seen him in action will attest, is a fabulous auctioneer/entertainer, and it is always a real treat to see him in action. And the crowd too was certainly keyed up to provide their support - there were many a good-humoured duel on the night between rival bidders.
The auction item that the AMBCQ donated was a reproduction of a 19th Century (1888) aerial view of Brisbane City showcasing all prominent buildings of the time. The reproduction was crafted by a Brisbane based master craftsman, Edwin Clark, and the mounted and framed picture included the signatures of Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman. Accompanying the reproduction is a kit that includes a key that lists all the major streets and 30 prominent landmarks of Brisbane in the 19th Century, as well as reproductions of an 1882 Street Plan and 6 illustrations of various landmarks in Brisbane in 1886. We thought it was quite a unique item, linking Cr Quirk and Lord Mayor Newman with the city they have both dedicated themselves to. We certainly had some fun before we handed the item over for auction, using the key to pick out buildings and other landmarks.
We were also presently surprised when the auction item did so well for Cr Quirk, with even the Lord Mayor putting in a bid, until it was finally sold for an extremely good sum after yet another bidding war. There were some really interesting auction items on the night including a pair of autographed speedos worn by Tony Abbott, and a helmet autographed by Lord Mayor Newman from the Clem 7 Tunnel project, plus rock samples from the tunneling work.
It was a great night for Cr Quirk and a very enjoyable night for the AMBCQ members who attended, as well as a great night for networking and making our presence as the AMBCQ known.
There were many political heavyweights there on the night, including Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, who paid a very sincere and strong tribute to Cr Quirk, the leader of the opposition in Queensland and fellow AMBCQ member, John-Paul Langbroek MP, many Brisbane City Councillors, a number of former state and federal MPs, Senator Brett Mason, former Lord Mayor Sally-Anne Atkinson, and even Mayor of Ipswich, Paul Pisasale (a former AMBCQ president during the 1990s). And there were a great multitude of community groups, like ourselves, business people and other supporters present as well.
As part of our contribution to the night, the AMBCQ also donated a special auction item. Cr Quirk, as anyone who has seen him in action will attest, is a fabulous auctioneer/entertainer, and it is always a real treat to see him in action. And the crowd too was certainly keyed up to provide their support - there were many a good-humoured duel on the night between rival bidders.
The auction item that the AMBCQ donated was a reproduction of a 19th Century (1888) aerial view of Brisbane City showcasing all prominent buildings of the time. The reproduction was crafted by a Brisbane based master craftsman, Edwin Clark, and the mounted and framed picture included the signatures of Deputy Mayor Graham Quirk and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman. Accompanying the reproduction is a kit that includes a key that lists all the major streets and 30 prominent landmarks of Brisbane in the 19th Century, as well as reproductions of an 1882 Street Plan and 6 illustrations of various landmarks in Brisbane in 1886. We thought it was quite a unique item, linking Cr Quirk and Lord Mayor Newman with the city they have both dedicated themselves to. We certainly had some fun before we handed the item over for auction, using the key to pick out buildings and other landmarks.
We were also presently surprised when the auction item did so well for Cr Quirk, with even the Lord Mayor putting in a bid, until it was finally sold for an extremely good sum after yet another bidding war. There were some really interesting auction items on the night including a pair of autographed speedos worn by Tony Abbott, and a helmet autographed by Lord Mayor Newman from the Clem 7 Tunnel project, plus rock samples from the tunneling work.
It was a great night for Cr Quirk and a very enjoyable night for the AMBCQ members who attended, as well as a great night for networking and making our presence as the AMBCQ known.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Lunch with British High Commissioner, the Rt Hon Baroness Amos, 16 March 2010
AMBCQ was invited to a luncheon reception for the new British High Commissioner, the Right Honourable Baroness Amos by our friends from ACE (Australian Council for Europe). Appointed to the House of Lords in 1997, she was the Secretary of State for International Development and the Leader of the House of Lords from 2003-2007.
Representing AMBCQ at the luncheon were Kiong Chan, President, Shona Leppanen-Gibson, Senior Vice-President, and John-Paul Langbroek, the State Opposition Leader (and AMBCQ member). We had the opportunity to catch up with Elfi Massey-Vallazza, our host and President of ACE, and also with Greg Vickery, former Honorary Consul for Indonesia, as well as many other currently serving consuls.
Baroness Amos has been in Australia since October last year, and she spoke extensively about the relationship between Australia and Britain, not only in terms of our historical links, but our ongoing trade and business relations as well. It was also interesting to hear a few insights about her time as a senior leader in the British Labour Party under then Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Representing AMBCQ at the luncheon were Kiong Chan, President, Shona Leppanen-Gibson, Senior Vice-President, and John-Paul Langbroek, the State Opposition Leader (and AMBCQ member). We had the opportunity to catch up with Elfi Massey-Vallazza, our host and President of ACE, and also with Greg Vickery, former Honorary Consul for Indonesia, as well as many other currently serving consuls.
Baroness Amos has been in Australia since October last year, and she spoke extensively about the relationship between Australia and Britain, not only in terms of our historical links, but our ongoing trade and business relations as well. It was also interesting to hear a few insights about her time as a senior leader in the British Labour Party under then Prime Minister Tony Blair.
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