Dear Subscriber, Issue #189 - 24 Feb 2020 EU Exit: Where we are now and where do we go from here? "The most important objective in all policy areas is for the UK to have genuine economic and political independence at the end of the year," remarked H.E. Charles Hay, British High Commissioner to Malaysia, echoing the sentiments made by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "The British government believes that over time the economic benefits of departing from EU law will offset any hypothetical problems that come from introducing friction into trade between the UK and the EU. Again the Prime Minister has been very clear, the UK wants to be treated as a sovereign equal with the European Union,” continued Charles on the fundamental choice UK had been facing on whether to retain close congruence or opt for a greater divergence from EU regulations. Last week in a first public address to BMCC members since the UK's official departure from the EU on 31 January 2020, which thus brought closure to three and a half years of Brexit uncertainty, the British High Commissioner gave a fair and comprehensive accounting on the state of things, covering the UK's future with the EU, ASEAN and Malaysia. A New UK Government Under Boris Johnson, there is a new government in place with a very clear majority. "Making Brexit happen was a very central part of the messaging of the new government as they campaigned in that election. On that point, there is now complete certainty," said Charles . He went on to comment on the major changes resulting from the UK elections, drawing attention to the distribution of seats and its majority which now lies in the Middle and North of England. "This is a very new development; who ever would have thought London would become a labour heartland. I think this will make a very big difference [and that] the government has already decided that there needs to be a rebalancing in the UK economy, away from the South which has enjoyed the fruits of economic growth over the past decade, and back further towards the Midlands and the North. The Transition Period, UK-EU Relations There is now a transition period until the end of 2020, while the UK and EU negotiate arrangements of departure. The current rules on trade, travel, and business for the UK and EU will continue to apply during this transition period. New rules will take effect on 1 January 2021. The High Commissioner relayed the UK Prime Minister's clarity and determination that the transition period will not be extended beyond the end of this year. "The UK has taken its seat in Geneva at the World Trade Organisation Body for the first time since 1973, [and] so we now have a major task ahead of us, which is negotiating [among other things] our future trade arrangement with the European Union," said His Excellency. UK-Malaysia Trade Relationship The UK and Malaysia remain excellent trading partners. After Singapore, Malaysia is the UK's second largest trading partner in ASEAN with bilateral trade worth about £5 billion a year. Reverberating the focusses of Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who visited Malaysia earlier this month, the UK is keen to promote the sectors of education, technology and services with an interest in further discussing the CPTPP. UK and Malaysia have agreed to set up a joint working group which aims to boost trade and investment between our two countries. UK and ASEAN "In the past we never thought of ASEAN as a separate entity. We had very good bilateral relationships with the individual members of ASEAN, but didn’t pay much attention to ASEAN itself. That’s definitely changed. We’ve now appointed our first ambassador to ASEAN and the Foreign Secretary was very keen to discuss the possibility of the UK becoming a dialogue partner with ASEAN," commented Charles. Climate Change Regarding standards and climate change, the High Commissioner remarked, "There is a very clear undertaking from my government that we’re going to continue to protect human, animal and plant life, health and the environment." The UK will host the 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) this November in Glasgow. It will be the biggest international conference the UK will ever have hosted, which the High Commissioner aptly highlighted as a point that the UK's departure from the European Union was not about turning away from the rest of the world. Businesses and the Future of Borders All goods entering the UK from the EU will be subject to the same checks and controls as goods coming in from the rest of the world after the transition period is ended. said the High Commissioner. "This comes back to the fundamental point of divergence. The government has been clear as it can possibly be that the UK is leaving the EU’s Custom’s Union and single market; and using that old phrase “taking back control of borders.” The messaging on that is that businesses will need to prepare for life outside the European Union," advised the High Commissioner. Movement of People The free movement of people between the UK and European Union is over. The UK government is intending to introduce an Australian style point based immigration system, which will be driven by the UK’s economic needs. A fire-chat session was held after the speech with Freda Liu, Producer and Presenter at BFM moderating a one on one session with Mr. Charles Hay. Here, the High Commissioner described in greater detail his thoughts on UK-Malaysia trade, the thriving and budding sectors as well as his own aspirations for future developments in bilateral ties. BMCC Chairman, Andrew Sill wrapped up the morning, thanking the High Commissioner for his time and insights, as well as all 60 guests in attendance who went on to enjoy the morning's breakfast spread and networking. Returning for a third consecutive year, the BMCC's Annual Business Excellence Awards 2020 is Open for Nominations! Please adhere to the submission guidelines as stipulated in each corresponding nomination pages below. Deadline for all submissions is 30 April 2020. Winners will be announced at the penultimate Awards Gala Night on 18th June 2020 at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur. for more info or contact rohazwan@bmcc.org.my ARE YOU A UK BUSINESS LOOKING TO EXPAND TO SOUTHEAST ASIA? BMCC Executive Director, Jennifer Lopez will be in the Belfast and London for a series of 1-2-1 meetings with British companies looking to do business in Malaysia. Organised by the UKABC in collaboration with BISEA, to book a slot and the Executive Directors of the ASEAN British Chambers of Commerce. Today, our Executive Director Jennifer Lopez met up with John Penrose, Managing Director - Malaysia of A fellow Large Corporate Member of the BMCC, EnQuest is a production and development company, with operations in the UK North Sea and Malaysia. EnQuest PLC was formed in 2010 through the combination of the UK North Sea assets of Petrofac and Lundin Petroleum. In 2014, the Group acquired its interests in Malaysia. The BMCC is looking for UK companies to showcase the best of British produce and products at the 21st Malaysian International Food & amp; Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB) 2020. MIFB is the perfect avenue to build business connections to facilitate exhibitors and buyers to source and identify potential business partners to expand their market globally. for more info or contact samantha@bmcc.org.my Energy Outlook 2020 (4 Mar) In entering this new decade, how far has the ASEAN region and Malaysia in particular, positioned itself in this diverse and crucial sector? What are the upcoming prospects and foreseeable trends in this energy space that we can benefit from? This forum by the BMCC Energy Committee will explore these opportunities as well as the challenges and uncertainties within the energy spectrum, regionally and within Malaysia, with experts from the public and private sectors. Penang: Preferred Investment Location in Malaysia (24 Mar) Penang has long been one of the preferred states in Malaysia for investment in manufacturing, services, tourism and property. In recognising the huge potential of business development in the Pearl of the Orient, the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC), is organising an exclusive sharing session for BMCC members in the manufacturing, services, and infrastructure sectors to discover how businesses can leverage on potential opportunities in Penang and be part of its economic prosperity. AGOS 2020 Finance Summit (17 - 18 Mar) BMCC Partnered Event Find out what are the leading trends and what is new in the Shared Services scene. Demystify data science and practical application for Finance Shared Service processes, emerging trends in digital tools and technology, including industry specific best practices on processes and technologies. BMCC Members are entitled to 15% discount! Email to comms@bmcc.org.my for your promo code Visit to get your tickets! Lancaster University is a collegiate public research university, based in Lancaster, England. The university was established by royal charter in 1964 and is ranked in the top ten of all three UK national league tables. It also received a Gold rating in the UK Government's inaugural (2017) Teaching Excellence Framework. In 2018, it was awarded University of the Year by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide and in 2020 was named International University of the Year. There are currently over 16,000 students based in the UK, as well as around 4,000 staff. The academic disciplines of the University are separated into four faculties: Arts and Social Sciences; Health and Medicine; Science and Technology; and the Lancaster University Management School. Since 2006, Lancaster University has operated in Malaysia through a strong partnership with Sunway University. Over twenty four dual-award programmes are offered through the partnership in the areas of Accounting; Business & amp; Management; Communications; Computer Science & amp; Information Systems; Digital Film Production; Interior Architecture and Psychology. Following a commitment of both institutions to deepen and broaden the partnership, in 2019 both universities formed the Future Cities Research Institute. The Institute focuses, initially, on two broad themes: Digital Cities and Sustainable Cities, built around existing expertise at Lancaster and Sunway. A third Theme, Liveable Cities, will be established later. The institute builds on existing strengths in Sunway and Lancaster, such as the Lancaster Environment Centre , complementing the work of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, and capitalising on Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah’s pioneering leadership in developing sustainable urban environments. Principal Representative Professor Andrew Abbott (Academic Dean, Lancaster University at Sunway) E: a.j.abbott@lancaster.ac.uk | T: +60 16 977 9815 | W: International SOS: Novel Coronavirus, What You Need To Know featuring Michael Hancock, Group Deputy Director of Operations and Dr Rodrigo Rodriguez - Fernandez, Medical Director of Health Consulting as they present the latest findings and updates on the coronavirus outbreak. French doctor stays in Wuhan to care for patients Also read up about Dr Philippe Klein from International SOS working on the frontline in Wuhan as he has chosen to stay in the epicenter to care for patients. Klein, a general practitioner at the international clinic affiliated with a public hospital, has offered medical services for expats in the city since the outbreak. International Schools Partnership Open Days (March 2020) Tenby Schools and Asia Pacific Schools, part of International Schools Partnership network, will be holding their open days and info days in March 2020. Families are welcome to visit our Amazing Learning focused campuses on the following dates. For more information, please visit the links provided below. 7 Mar: Asia Pacific Schools ( / ) , 13 Mar: 28 Mar: (POSTPONED) Tenby Schools' Rainforest Fest Dear members, please be informed that the Tenby Schools' Rainforest Fest initially scheduled for the 7th of March has been postponed as a precautionary effort against the Corona Virus (Covid-19) outbreak. Watch this space for future announcements of new confirmed dates. For any inquiries, email: trobinson@tenby.edu.my Marlborough College Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur Coffee Morning (7 Mar) The Master, Mr Alan Stevens and his wife Heather, invite you to discover the benefits of a Marlborough College Malaysia day and boarding education. Saturday, 7th March 2020 at 10.30am to 12.30pm The Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur Register your attendance UM Startups Co-Founder Search Day (9 Mar) University of Malaya (UM) is eager to bring it's innovative researched products to market through startups. These selected startups are being initiated by UM researchers. However these researchers, who are academicians know their limitation in commercialising, bring to market, their own researched products. They need business co-founder(s) to lead and run the business portion of their startups. This is where UM Startups Co-Founder Search Day comes in. UMDT Startup Co-Founder Search Day is an event when researchers will pitch their startup researched ideas in search of business co-founders. The International School @ ParkCity Open Day (14 Mar) We invite you to join our Open Day on 14th March 2020 at the International School at ParkCity Kuala Lumpur, located in the highly acclaimed township of Desa ParkCity. The Open day will run from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm and the presentation by our school Principal, Mr Jonathan Turner, will begin at 11:30 am followed by a school tour by our experienced teachers and student leaders. Children are welcome to join and refreshments will be served. Click or here. Village Grocer: Bringing To You A Taste of the UK The purveyor of everything fresh, Village Grocer, is bringing to you a taste of the United Kingdom with its upcoming UK Fair at its stores. From 20th Feb to 23rd Mar, have your pick of the finest assortment of biscuits and teas for your weekend afternoon tea. There are also great deals on scones and selected bakery items on offer. For those who enjoy hearty meal, a selection of high quality meats and sea bounty are also available. Visit your nearest Village Grocer and seize this limited time offer to savour the delicious offerings of the United Kingdom. Garden International School 2020 Scholarships Garden International School is pleased to announce the launch of its 2020 A Level Scholarships for Year 12 students looking to join their prestigious Sixth Form programme. The GIS Scholarship programme is aimed at giving back to the community by helping outstanding scholars achieve their greatest academic aspirations - no matter their background - by rewarding eligible students with up to 100% of tuition fees covered and over 20k worth of application & amp; registration fees waived. *Available for Malaysian passport holders only* #BornToStandOut? Enquire today at or email for University of Southampton Malaysia: Global Leadership Conference 2020 (22-23 Apr) Recognising the challenges leaders face in a constantly changing environment and drawing on experiences from international business and higher education providers, the University of Southampton Malaysia brings you this 2-day programme covering a variety of contemporary issues in global leadership, featuring expert speakers from a range of countries, sectors and perspectives. 10% off for BMCC members! | Mandarin Oriental: Take Advantage of Our Weekend Staycation Bring your family and enjoy a splashing good time at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur. Kids will be delighted to spend a day by the pool while you lounge away in relaxation all on our spa & amp; wellness floor that includes a spa, fitness centre, Mind & amp; Body Studio, indoor golf and outdoor tennis. Or email mokul-reservations@mohg.com for bookings Cycle & amp; Carriage: Amazing Deals! Drive home a Mercedes-Benz Certified pre-owned car at an unbeatable price! Get your hands on the car you want this February as we reveal 5 units of Mercedes-Benz Certified pre-owned cars every week at a price never before seen. UKAS Accredits ABAC Center of Excellence’s Anti-Bribery Certification Program ABAC Center of Excellence Limited announced that the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has accredited its ABAC Certification services for administering the ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems standard. ABAC Center of Excellence Limited provides ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management systems certification for organisations that implement prescribed measures to prevent, detect and address bribery. Far East Consortium (FEC) launches ‘Aspen’ at Consort Place, Canary Wharf, London Leading developer, Far East Consortium (FEC) is proud to launch Aspen, an exciting new lifestyle offering within Consort Place, which once complete in 2023, will sit proudly in Canary Wharf. Aspen will offer a remarkable collection of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, within an elegant 65 storey tower. The development will feature the Aspen Club which will include concierge services, a wellness and fitness suite, a business lounge and a glorious residents sky lounge at the very top. Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre The First Venue In Malaysia To Collaborate With Food Aid Foundation! The (the Centre) recently became the first venue in Malaysia to partner with Food Aid Foundation to connect surplus with the world of needs. The foundation is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that rescues surplus food and groceries and distributes it to people in need. Under the partnership, the Centre will be providing its surplus food and raising awareness surrounding the importance of limiting food waste amongst its team members and the general public. Advertise with us! 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