BETHESDA, Md. (Feb. 13, 2014) — The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) hosted a delegation of Malaysian automotive industry and government officials during a half-day meeting Feb. 12.
Attending the meeting at AAIA headquarters were officials from the Malaysian Automotive Institute, the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry and the Embassy of Malaysia.
During the meeting, the AAIA gave the Malaysians an overview of its various programs and initiatives to help its members compete in the global marketplace, the association said. The Malaysians in turn told the AAIA of the Malaysian government's New Automotive Policy for 2014, which stresses development of the Malaysian aftermarket.
Among the issues the AAIA and the Malaysians discussed as avenues for continued cooperation were:
• Creating a Malaysian consumer education campaign similar to the AAIA's "Be Car Care Aware" program;
• Collecting market intelligence on the Malaysian automotive market for distribution to the AAIA members interested in doing business there; and
• Exploring standards development in e-commerce and technology to help lower the cost of doing business with Malaysia and remove a barrier to trade with Malaysia.
"We are seriously looking to develop our aftermarket and transform it to international standards," said Madani Sahari, CEO of the Malaysian Automotive Institute. "We believe that the adoption of existing good practices such as those in the U.S. would benefit Malaysia and henceforth bring positive changes faster."
