New Year’s message from the Executive Director’s desk

Dear readers,

2023 in many ways flew by in the blink of an eye and here we are marking the start of a new year!

About 12 months ago, I recall describing 2023 as a year that would probably be the most challenging and looking back, I think you would agree with me. We saw inflation continuing to rise along with sky-high energy prices, the falling ringgit, US Fed rate hikes, China’s weaker-than-expected economic recovery and geopolitical tensions that remind us of the precariousness of life and why the preservation of peace is more important than ever.

Amid the chaos, there are also memorable milestones and silver linings worth celebrating such as Malaysia’s first unity government that has displayed a strong commitment to promoting the country as an ideal destination for investors. That can only mean good things should that momentum be sustained, further boosted by frameworks such as the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and National Energy Transition Roadmap which will keep the Malaysian economy competitive.

Not to forget, 2023 was also made memorable with the visit of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, an occasion that marked a German president’s first state engagement to Malaysia in 26 years. I hope we continue to see more of such visits here and in Germany to further enhance the friendship and economic ties between our nations.

I often look towards the new year with great enthusiasm and this year is no different as 2024 is already shaping up to be an exciting year.

Our MGCC calendar this year is filled with a selection of thoughtfully curated events that seek to inform and engage. Even though the German government is struggling to fix the federal budget crisis following a court ruling in November, we look forward to the new year with a lot of positive expectations. We kick off 2024 with our New Year’s Reception in two weeks and I hope to see you at our upcoming soiree to start the year on the right note.

The fiercely debated topic of AI will continue to change and challenge the way we interact with technology so for our 4th German-Malaysian Business Forum, we will be looking at AI in manufacturing, a pertinent topic as supply chains across the globe continue to seek resilience.

For our Annual Industry Outlook this year, we will shine a spotlight on the Malaysian healthcare industry, a sector that has always been crucial but made more critical following our collective experience of a global pandemic.

In between these signature events, we look forward to seeing you at our Sundowners and Tuesday Club series before closing off the year with the Jingle & Mingle – do stay tuned as we have grand plans to elevate our cherished cultural gathering to the next level this year.

May 2024 be the year that brings you unparalleled success, new achievements and fresh inspirations. I look forward to supporting your goals and being part of your story.

Happy New Year, Selamat Tahun Baru and Frohes Neues Jahr from me and my team!

Daniel Bernbeck

Executive Director