Najib to visit Japan April 18-21

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to make an official visit to Japan from April 18 to 21 at the invitation of the Japanese government.

This is his first visit to Japan in his capacity as prime minister.

A statement from the Foreign Ministry here said Najib will be accompanied by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who is also acting foreign minister, and his wife, Datin Seri Masnah Rais, on the four-day visit.

In Tokyo, Prime Minister is scheduled to have an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

He will also have a bilateral meeting with Japan's Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, and attend an official dinner hosted by Hatoyama.

He will visit a Japanese recycling plant, address Japanese business leaders and meet leading Japanese captains of industry as well as receive an honorary doctorate from the Meiji University.

Najib is also scheduled to meet Malaysians and Malaysian students in Tokyo before returning home.

Bank Negara beri 5 lagi lesen perbankan asing
Kemasukan tingkat kepelbagaian industri kewangan Malaysia

BANK Negara Malaysia memberi lima lagi lesen perbankan komersial baru kepada institusi kewangan asing dalam usaha meningkatkan kepelbagaian dalam industri perkhidmatan kewangan di negara ini.

Lesen yang dikeluarkan di bawah Akta Bank dan Institusi Kewangan 1989 (BAFIA) itu diberikan kepada anak syarikat milik penuh BNP Paribas SA, Perancis; Mizuho Corporate Bank, Jepun; National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Emiriah Arab Bersatu; PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk, Indonesia dan Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Jepun.

Bank Negara dalam kenyataannya semalam berkata, pemberian lesen berkenaan adalah sejajar dengan liberalisasi sektor perkhidmatan kewangan yang diumumkan 27 April tahun lalu yang mana ia menarik minat institusi kewangan asing untuk beroperasi di Malaysia.

“Pemilihan bank berkenaan dibuat dengan mengambil kira kekukuhan kedudukan kewangan, rekod prestasi, kepakaran, pelan perniagaan dan jangkaan sumbangan pemohon terhadap pembangunan sektor kewangan di Malaysia.

Japanese firms to boost hiring of foreigners by up to 50%

Tuesday 06th July, 03:51 PM JST

TOKYO —

Major Japanese firms are planning to boost hiring of foreign nationals by up to 50% of their new recruits in fiscal 2011, officials of the companies said Tuesday.
 
Fast Retailing Co, the operator of the popular Uniqlo casual clothing chain, major convenience store chain Lawson Inc and Rakuten Inc, which operates the largest Internet mall in Japan, are planning to recruit foreigners mainly from Asian countries including China, Taiwan and Malaysia, according to the officials.
 
As they are expanding global operations especially in emerging markets in Asia amid shrinking domestic sales, the three companies are accelerating operations to hire Asian graduates in their home countries and those studying at Japanese universities.
 
The firms hope to promote them to company executives in the future to lead their operations in the Asian markets, the officials said.

Fast Retailing said it is planning to hire about 300 foreigners, which accounts for about 50% of its planned new recruits for the year starting in April next year.
 
The company hopes to hire people who can work on its plan to open more shops in China and those who can serve as shop managers in Malaysia and Taiwan, where it plans to open its first outlets.