23-11-2007: Proton should focus on Asia, says Rafidah
KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd should concentrate on building its market base in Asia instead of competing in the United States or Europe, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said.
Proton would be able to compete more effectively in markets such as China, India and Southeast Asia by taking advantage of the low tax regime under the Asean Free Trade Agreement, she said.
“We should not forget that Proton is not going to be a global company. I say this because the American and European markets are different and not for us,” Rafidah said.
She was speaking to reporters after opening the Second Asia Oceania Tax Consultants’ Association International Convention 2007 here yesterday.
However, the national carmaker could make further inroads into the Chinese market through closer cooperation with car exporters in China, she said.
Rafidah also said her ministry would continue to help Proton to develop an efficient vendor system and find new markets in Asia.
On Proton’s failed bid to get Volkswagen AG to be its strategic partner, the minister said what the company needed was a technical partner rather than an equity partner.
She stressed that Proton should also be given a chance to prove itself and the company had skilled personnel who knew when a technical cooperation should be undertaken.
“Without a partner, Proton has managed to extricate itself from a difficult situation. When they prepare a plan and implement it, I am confident they have the ability to advance,” Rafidah said.
Proton would be able to compete more effectively in markets such as China, India and Southeast Asia by taking advantage of the low tax regime under the Asean Free Trade Agreement, she said.
“We should not forget that Proton is not going to be a global company. I say this because the American and European markets are different and not for us,” Rafidah said.
She was speaking to reporters after opening the Second Asia Oceania Tax Consultants’ Association International Convention 2007 here yesterday.
However, the national carmaker could make further inroads into the Chinese market through closer cooperation with car exporters in China, she said.
Rafidah also said her ministry would continue to help Proton to develop an efficient vendor system and find new markets in Asia.
On Proton’s failed bid to get Volkswagen AG to be its strategic partner, the minister said what the company needed was a technical partner rather than an equity partner.
She stressed that Proton should also be given a chance to prove itself and the company had skilled personnel who knew when a technical cooperation should be undertaken.
“Without a partner, Proton has managed to extricate itself from a difficult situation. When they prepare a plan and implement it, I am confident they have the ability to advance,” Rafidah said.
posted by SEE FU at 5:41 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home