German delegation visits Malaysia to showcase sustainable development solutions in waste management and recycling

GERMAN DELEGATION VISITS MALAYSIA TO SHOWCASE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS IN WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING 

The five-day visit provides a platform for stakeholders from the Malaysian and German waste management and recycling industry to meet and exchange knowledge. 

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 October 2023 – The Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC) has welcomed a delegation from 11 companies in Germany to explore business opportunities in the waste management and recycling sector in Malaysia.

The business initiation trip takes place from 23 – 27 October 2023 and is organised by MGCC, in cooperation with SBS systems for business solutions (SBS) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), along with project partners the Waste Management Association (WMAM) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA). 

The project aims to showcase some of Germany’s best solutions and technology providers in the field of waste management and recycling industry as well as to enhance Malaysia’s environmental sustainability through green growth. 

The five-day business initiation trip features a one-day conference and business matching event which includes presentations, expertise sharing, and individual business meetings with German solution providers. Some of the key areas of discussion are green tech incentives for Malaysian companies, green financing opportunities, developments in industrial equipment and technologies, the future of recycling and waste-to-energy conversion. The delegates will also visit the Jeram Sanitary Landfill in Kapar, Selangor and the Recovery Initiative Sustainable Eco-Facility (RISE Kuala Lumpur) recycling centre near Gombak

Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA, stated, “Through our strategic partnership and international collaboration with Germany, as spearheaded by the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC), we are fully committed to cultivating innovation and sustainable practices within Malaysia’s waste management and recycling industry. Malaysia has taken proactive measures to establish a robust foundation for waste management and recycling infrastructure. We recognise the urgent need to reduce waste and maximise resource efficiency.” 

“As stipulated in the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, we are determined to frontload our efforts towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In an increasingly resource-constrained world, it is imperative that we transition to a sustainable circular economy, where waste is transformed into valuable resources that can be endlessly reused and repurposed,” he further added. 

Delegation member and presenter Dr. Armin Vogel, Managing Director at SSI Schäfer Plastics GmbH and Chairman of the Board at the German waste management and recycling association RETechPartnership e.V., spoke about Malaysia’s substantial progress through the regulations of Act 672 and nationwide privatisation in the field of waste management.

“The German RETech Partnership e.V. is committed to supporting Malaysia in its journey towards a modern and climate-friendly circular economy. We are ready to contribute our expertise and resources to actively drive this essential transformation. We are confident that significant progress can be achieved through our collaboration and the partnership between Germany and Malaysia, not only protecting the climate and environment but also creating economic opportunities,” Dr. Vogel said. 

Germany has one of the highest recycling rates in the world and recycled 67% of its municipal waste in 2020. German technology and waste management system is world-leading, with revenues of around EUR80 billion (RM400 billion) per year, especially in the field of plastic packaging recycling where nearly 100% of plastic waste is recycled. 

All delegates from Germany were also briefed on intercultural norms, a signature practice of MGCC as the official voice of German trade in Malaysia and the largest bilateral European chamber in the country.