First of all, I would like to put forward my sincere thanks to all present for putting aside your precious time to be with us this morning at today’s seminar. It is with great pleasure to welcome you to this seminar on “Asia Pacific’s Preferred International Business and Financial Centre”. The seminar here in Shanghai is part of the Labuan’s road shows in greater China.

The series of investment seminars by Labuan’s marketing arm, Labuan IBFC Inc. or LIBFC is aimed at enhancing the investors’ awareness on the Labuan financial sector and sharing the exciting prospects offered by the Centre to meet the needs of the regional and international business communities. This initiative is drawn in line with the strategic direction of the Labuan IBFC in maintaining its position as the preferred financial centre in the Asia Pacific and its role in advancing regional financial inter-linkages under Malaysia’s Financial Sector Blueprint.

Our selection of destination for the road shows demonstrates the importance of China, in particular Shanghai, in the global economy and financial systems, particularly in trade and investments. Opportunities in Asia are definitely abundant, with China becoming an engine of growth for other economies in Asia. It is expected that the economic and financial developments that are currently taking place would continue to promote growth in a more connected Asian with significant expansion in intra-regional trade, investment and financial flows, and with Shanghai playing a key role in the flows. It is within this exciting intra-regional business opportunities that Labuan IBFC offers its value propositions as the ideal jurisdiction to domicile your business.

 

Labuan IBFC definitely has a distinct advantage based on its strategic location and financial infrastructure that is backed by robust regulatory framework. Labuan IBFC is home to 60 international banks and more than 200 insurance companies. The conducive business eco-system has and will continue to be important in reinforcing the prospects of businesses to advance their opportunities in the region.

The Labuan IBFC facilitates the creation of new and innovative products and structures, including holding and trading companies, protected cell companies for the business community. Labuan foundations, Labuan special trust, private trust companies and other financial planning services are becoming popular for private wealth management.

Labuan IBFC is certainly not new to investors and the business community in Shanghai. We have been conducting awareness programs in this city. In addition, many of the institutions such as the international banks, reinsurance companies and trust companies have business dealings or transactions with the financial and business community in Shanghai. These business inter-linkages between Shanghai and Labuan IBFC will bode well for greater future business opportunities and we look forward to welcoming more investors from Shanghai to use Labuan to expand their business in the Asia Pacific region.

 

We have with us today, speakers who are experts in diverse professions and businesses to share their unique experience on how the LIBFC facilitates cross-border businesses. I trust you will benefit from this seminar, and we hope to engage with you in the course of today on how Labuan IBFC can facilitate your businesses.

In closing, I wish to thank you for your presence and for accepting our invitation to this seminar.

 

Thank you.