PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s participation in the Expo 2017 Future Energy in Astana, Kazakhstan, has boosted the country’s image as a leading player in the field of innovation and green energy.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said, during the three-month expo, Malaysia displayed its initiatives, leadership and innovations in green energy and sustainability through the Malaysia Pavilion.
He said the pavilion was one of the 10 most popular pavilions in terms of visitors, with more than 682,000, well above the key performance indicator (KPI) target of 200,000 set by the ministry.
“Our activities gave opportunity to our private sector and industry to explore potential collaborations and business opportunities with their Kazakhstan counterparts. These interactions have resulted in RM12.67 billion in business leads, against our KPI of RM1 billion.
“These business leads were derived from 14 memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed at a total value of RM5.044 billion, and through business matching sessions which registered business leads worth RM7.632 billion,” he said at the Malaysia Pavilion Expo 2017 Appreciation Dinner.
The dinner was held as an appreciation to all parties who participated in Expo 2017, which ran from June 10 to Sept 10, and to celebrate Malaysia Pavilion’s achievements.
Ongkili said Malaysia and Kazakhstan had signed an MoU to strengthen and further develop cooperation in the field of green technology.
He added that the ministry would be proposing the formation of a joint working group to see to it that the MoU is made operational.
Ongkili said the ministry had also initiated the #mybutterflyeffect campaign based on the Butterfly Effect theory that states a small action can create a big impact.
At the event, the ministry presented tokens of appreciation to the participating ministries, agencies, private sectors and media outlets.
The New Straits Times was also one of the recipients. It was represented by executive editor (news) Muzli Mohamad Zin.
Also present were Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan; Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah; Kazakhstan ambassador to Malaysia Daniyar Sarekenov and Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang.