Kuala Lumpur, April 12 – The EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EUMCCI) has appointed Roberto Benetello as its first Chief Executive Officer.
With over 20 years of experience in international general management, marketing and business development in renewable energy, Benetello’s work experience ranges from providing consultancy in strategic business planning, marketing, international business development and start-ups to online strategy and event planning.
Benetello started his career with EUMCCI in April 2016 when he joined the Board of the Chamber and was later appointed the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The valuable contributions he made during his chairmanship prompted the Chamber to appoint him as EUMCCI’s first CEO to further leverage on his capability and expertise in operations. Benetello holds an Executive Master in Business Administration from SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi University, Italy.
On his appointment, Benetello said: “My vision for EUMCCI is to be the go-to platform for our members, other EU Bilateral Chambers and the EU business community where we can aggregate business critical issues into recommendations for our stakeholders to make Malaysia a friendly business environment for EU companies and investors.”
“Some smaller EU countries do not have a chamber here or have only minimal local representation. As such, EUMCCI plays an important role in supporting and facilitating access to first -movers from smaller EU countries into Malaysia.”
“With EUMCCI working in close partnership with all the EU bilateral Chambers in Malaysia, we have now become a whole extended family, moving critical issues on business towards the same direction for greater impact and effectiveness,” he added.
EUMCCI’s role as the ‘Chamber of Chambers’ will streamline the EU business community’s advocacy efforts towards improving the regulatory environment in Malaysia by creating an ecosystem for business to flourish.
There will be greater cohesion and efficiency which would benefit and enhance trade and business relations between the EU and Malaysia.
As the CEO, Benetello’s responsibility will be to position EUMCCI to be the advocacy platform between the EU business community and Malaysian policy makers. This fresh direction of EUMCCI emphasises the role and involvement of its various Committees who meet regularly to discuss issues affecting their particular industries and to hold seminars with guest speakers from the government, academia and the business sector.
One such effort is evident in the Chamber’s flagship event, the EU-Malaysia Trade and Investment Forum. Held annually, this forum provides an opportunity for the European business community in Malaysia to present and discuss their challenges when doing business in Malaysia.
In support of the Forum, the EU-Malaysia Trade Issues and Recommendation Book will also be presented to the Ministry of International Trade and Investment (MITI), Malaysia.
The book is a collaborative project by the EUMCCI Committees, detailing each challenge faced by European businesses in various sectors and suggested recommendation to the Malaysian authorities.
EUMCCI’s collaboration with partners at the regional ASEAN level, such as the EU-ASEAN Business Council also enables EUMCCI to develop a regional role and perspective which is now reflected in the trade issues and recommendation book.
This year’s forum will look into Malaysia’s next step forward on increasing global competitiveness by applying innovative technologies and knowledge to the service and manufacturing industry.