Japan urged to open doors

Japan urged to open doors

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad urged Japan Thursday to open its doors wider to imports from Southeast Asia now its economy was recovering.

"As Asia's leading economy, we look to Japan to assume a natural leading role by facilitating our access to its market," he said at a management seminar linking 500 participants in Kuala Lumpur, Osaka and Thailand.

Speaking to reporters later, Mahathir said Malaysia did not accrue many benefits from its exports to Japan as they were mostly Japanese goods manufactured locally.

"We would like to have products produced by local people penetrate Japanese markets," he said.

Mahathir said procedures and non-tariff barriers restricted imports by Japan.

In his speech, the premier voiced hope that Japan's economic recovery would in turn allow its companies to help Southeast Asian manufacturers increase exports.