A Brief History of MTCC
Its Beginnings
The inception of the Malaysian-Thai Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) was at the suggestion of the then Malaysian Minister of International Trade &Industry, Dato’ Seri Rafidah Aziz who had the aim of bringing together the loose group of Malaysian business people who were operating in Thailand. MTCC was officially registered on 21st June 2002 with the Ministry of Commerce and launched a few weeks later on ?6 July by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, the then Prime Minister of Malaysia. The Chamber’s objective is to promote and develop economic relations and cooperation between Malaysia and Thailand and also among Malaysian business people in Thailand and in the neighbouring region.
At its first Annual General Meeting on 10th August a Board of Directors was elected to organize and carry out the day-to-day activities of the Chamber. The Board meets regularly every month. Mr. Yeap Swee Chuan was elected Chairman and Mr. P Ravidran, the Malaysian Economic Counselor at that time was appointed as an Advisor. The then Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand, Dato’ Syed Norulzaman bin Syed Kamarulzaman became its first patron. The Chamber’s current patron is Dato’ Nazirah Hussain, the present Malaysian Ambassador to Thailand.
Social Networking
MTCC carried out its first official activity when it co-hosted a business luncheon in July 2002 where the then Prime Minister of Malaysia delivered a key note address to the business community in Thailand.
In keeping with its objective to promote business relations in the community, the MTCC regularly organizes social functions like networking dinners, seminars and conferences, and golfing events. Some of the activities MTCC organized included the Malaysian Food Charity Dinner in September 2011 where guests were served with authentic Malaysian food prepared by Dato’ Ismail Ahmad – a celebrity chef; a Charity Golf Game with Thailand DPM and Finance Minister, H.E. Mr. Kittiratt Na Ranong in 2012; ?a second Charity Dinner presided over by Thailand DPM and Finance Minister, the Malaysian ambassador, the Australian ambassador in 2013; and a special networking dinner for Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry, The Hon. Dato’s Sri Mustapa Mohamed, and his delegation in conjunction with their working visit to Thailand in September 2013. ?During the past year, the Chamber increased its joint-networking activities with other trade chambers like the Singapore-Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Trade Association.
In addition to the activities mentioned, The Chamber helps to facilitate visits by Malaysians from the business community or government bodies who want to know more about the Thai economy.
Publications
MTCC produces quarterly newsletters to keep members apprised of the latest government policies and economic developments. It also serves as an avenue for members to publicize their companies’ profile or to disseminate information about their companies. The MTCC newsletters are distributed widely both in Thailand and in Malaysia including government offices and corporate organizations. It has an 800-wide circulation. Besides the quarterly newsletters, MTCC also produces an annual handbook/directory.
A highlight of MTCC’s publication achievements is the official launch of its website in February 2005. The contents are frequently updated to provide useful and informative news to the business community in Thailand, as well as to other interested parties worldwide. We have fostered a closer relationship to the online community by offering web links exchange, near to real time announcement, an online billboard and exchange rates. We have achieved more than 612,569 hits since it had first appeared online in February 2005. In 2013, MTCC revamped its website to have a more user -friendly and stylish web design which provides additional features and more interactive activities. In addition, MTCC also set up a Facebook page to disseminate chamber activities in a more casual ways to better interact with our members.
Office Premise
MTCC moved to its current office premise in October 2009, at Q House Lumpini Building. The Chamber’s office is within the same complex where MATRADE (Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation) and MIDA (Malaysian Industrial Development Authority) have their offices too. By providing office space for MTCC to operate, the Malaysian government is extending its support for the further growth and development of the Chamber, and the promotion of closer ties between Malaysian and Thai business people.
CSR Activities
As the Chamber becomes more established, it is beginning to look at its responsibility towards contributing back to the community on behalf of its members. The Chamber participated in the Malaysian Embassy’s initiative to visit fellow Malaysians incarcerated in Thai prisons that subsequently became a regular scheduled activity in the Embassy’s outreach to our fellow countrymen. Recognizin