Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia as the Host – Malaysia’s Strengths & Attractions

FWC 2017 will be hosted in Malaysia by the Federation of Malaysian Freight Forwarders (FMFF), the national association representing the logistics industry comprising 1,090 members in Malaysia and endorsed by the Ministry of Transport (MOT). FMFF is focused on:

• Promoting Malaysia’s world-class land, air and sea infrastructure
• Outlining Malaysia’s open policies on logistics services
• Detailing Malaysia’s plans for logistics in the future and its positioning as a hub for leading regional distribution centres (RDC) and preferred international procurement centres (IPC)
• Facilitating the implementation of the government’s Logistics and Trade Facilitation Master Plan to elevate Malaysia to become “The Preferred Logistics Gateway to Asia”

Malaysia has strong historical and economic links with large trading nations such as India and China and acts as a conduit with the Islamic world. Located on a historically important sea lane – the Straits of Malacca, Malaysia’s airports (Top 10 in the world) and seaports (Top 20 in the world) are ranked as world class.

It has a well-developed infrastructure, which makes it the “ideal springboard to the Asia-Pacific market” (source: MIDA). With the liberalisation of markets in the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and Malaysia becoming one of the member countries under the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), the Malaysian government is focusing efforts on measures to enhance greater competitiveness and in creating a conducive business environment (source: National Transformation Programme Annual Report 2015).

Malaysia is a world player in global logistics - it has been ranked 4th in emerging market logistics, behind China, United Arab Emirates and India, according to the 2016 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, a reputable Index which offers a snapshot of the logistics industry sentiment among more than 1,100 global logistics executives. Malaysia has also been placed at number 10 among countries with the most potential to grow as a logistics market. This recent placing of 4th out of the world’s 45 leading emerging markets speaks volumes for Malaysia’s drive to develop world-class infrastructure and transport network (source: The Star Business News, 19th Jan 2016).

With strategic developments in the “Belt and Road” (OBOR) economies (i.e. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road) lead by China and the broadening of trade, Malaysia is well-placed to reap the benefits of such an initiative, as a participant of “Belt and Road”.