Malaysia to give input on direction of CHOGM after 2015

Malaysia will give significant input to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which intends to play a role in determining the Post Development 2015, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib, during the two CHOGM 2013 retreat sessions Saturday, said the Commonwealth organisation intended to play a role in determine the direction of the agenda after 2015, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"We certainly will give our input (to CHOGM)," he told Malaysian journalists after opening the one-stop Malaysian processing centre, Foshwa Pvt Ltd, at the World Trade Centre, here.

Prior to that, Najib attended the CHOGM retreat session at the Waters Edge Hotel, which he said was held in a relaxing and calm surrounding.

Najib said the Commonwealth Finance Minister's conference would be held to determine the agenda after 2015.

During the retreat which explained the agenda on fair and inclusive development, Najib said all leaders were supportive of the concept of fair and inclusive development that was tabled.

Various suggestions were submitted by the Commonwealth leaders on fair and inclusive development, among them, the need to continue with efforts to reduce poverty, development of "people-centred" projects, like education, besides issues on climatic change, he added.

He said his views on fair and inclusive development was taken into account by CHOGM and would be included as part of the CHOGM Communique.

Earlier in his speech, Najib said he was confident Foshwa would address the problems on the delay in visa processing for tourists from south Asia who wished to visit Malaysia.

"This will not only reduce the cost of visa processing, but also the responsibility of the office of the Malaysian Embassy, as well as enhance effectiveness," he added.

Najib said Malaysia was targetting 28 million tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014, with about 1.06 million from South Asia.

Foshwa, a Malaysian out-sourcing company, obtained the Home Ministry's approval to open the visa processing centre in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.