ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (2009)
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Level of Government : Central

Type of Obligation : National Treatment Senior Management and Board of Directors

Description of Measure : Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure relating to employment of expatriates. Restrictions may be imposed on the number, duration and type of expatriates employed.

Source of Measure : - Immigration Act 1959/63 [Act 155] - Employment (Restriction) 1968 (Revised1988) - Expatriate Services Division (ESD) Online Guidebook - Government Policies

9.

Sector : All Sectors

Sub-Sector : -

Industry Classification : -

Level of Government : Central and Regional

Type of Obligation : National Treatment

Description of Measure : Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure relating to National and State unit trusts. This includes unit trust schemes that are created or operated to pursue public policy objectives related to Bumiputera or affirmative action for the socially disadvantaged.

Source of measures : - Federal Constitution New Economic Policy National Development Policy National Vision Policy

10.

Sector : All Sectors

Sub-Sector : -

Industry Classification : -

Level of Government : Central and Regional

Type of Obligation : National Treatment

Description of Measure : Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure relating to the issuance of licence/permit including numerical limitations and non-issuance of licences. Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure relating to the conditions (4) imposed in the issuance of licence/permit.

Source of Measure : - Government Policy - Industrial Co-Ordination Act 1975 [Act 156] - Administrative guidelines

(4) For illustrative purposes, this may include the recommendation that employment of workers be reflective of the racial composition of the country and to use local distributors.

11.

Sector : All Sectors

Sub-Sector : -

Industry Classification : -

Level of Government : Central and Regional

Type of Obligation : National Treatment

Description of Measure : Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure relating to the rights of statutory bodies.(5)

Source of Measure : - Article 92 of Federal Constitution - Employees Provident Fund Act 1991 [Act 452] - Tabung Haji Act 1995 [Act 535] - Tabung Angkatan Tentera Act 1973 [Act 101] - Kumpulan Wang Amanah Persaraan (Diperbadankan) - State Economic Development Corporation Enactments - State Agriculture Development Corporation Enactments - Iskandar Regional Development Authority Act 2007 [Act 664] - Northern Corridor Implementation Authority Act 2008 [Act 687] - East Coast Economic Region Development Council Act 2008 [Act 688] - Regional Corridors Development Authorities Ordinance 2006 - Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) Enactment 2009 - Administrative Guidelines

(5) Examples of statutory bodies include Employees Provident Fund and Lembaga Tabung Haji.

12.

Sector: Manufacturing

Sub-Sector: Services Incidental to Manufacturing

Industry Classification: ISIC Divisions 15 to 36

Level of Government: Central and Regional

Type of Obligation: National Treatment Senior Management and Board of Directors

Description of Measure: For companies/projects that are in existence before the entry into force of this Agreement, conditions imposed in their approvals for licence/permits shall continue to apply. Notwithstanding the liberalisation of similar licence conditions for new companies/ projects, or expansion and/or diversification projects, any liberalisation for existing companies/projects shall be considered on a case by case basis.

Source of Measure:

- Industrial Co-ordination Act 1975.

- Government Policy.

- Administrative Guidelines.

13.

Sector : Manufacturing

Sub-Sector: Services Incidental to Manufacturing

Industry Classification : ISIC (see below) CPC 884-885

Level of Government : Central and Regional

Type of Obligation : National Treatment

Description of Measure : Foreign equity is limited up to 30% in the following activities/products:

- fabrics and apparels of Batik (ISIC 1711, ISIC 1712, ISIC 1810)

- integrated portland cement (ISIC 2694)

Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measures relating to the conditions imposed on the following activities/products which may be inconsistent with National Treatment:

Sectors with specific conditions - Pineapple canning (ISIC 1513) - Palm oil milling and refining (ISIC 1514) - Wood-based products utilizing local logs (ISIC 2010, ISIC 2021, ISIC 2022) - Arms, weapons, ammunitions, explosive, pyrotechnic products, propellant powders, detonating or safety fuses, and the like (ISIC 2429, ISIC 2927) - Petroleum refining (ISIC 2320) - Manufacture/Assembly of motor vehicles, passenger cars and commercial vehicles (ISIC 3410) - Sugar refining (ISIC 1542)

Sectors which are currently closed - Liquors and alcoholic beverages (ISIC 15513) - Tobacco processing and cigarettes (ISIC 1600) - Optical discs, including CD, CD-ROM, VCD, DVD (ISIC 2230) - Biodiesel (ISIC 2411) - Collection, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous and toxic wastes - Ordinary Portland Cement (non-integrated) (ISIC 2694)

Source of Measure : - Industrial Co-Ordination Act 1975 [Act 156] - Customs Act 1967 [Act 235]

14.

Sector : Fishery

Sub-Sector: - Services Incidental to Fishery - Capture fisheries

Industry Classification : ISIC Division 05 CPC 882

Level of Government : Central and Regional

Type of Obligation : National Treatment

Description of Measure : No foreign fishing vessel (6) shall load or unload any fish, fuel or supplies or transship any fish or fish or attempt to fish or conduct any technoeconomic research or waters survey of any fishery, in Malaysian fisheries waters (7) unless authorised to do so. Fishing vessel means any boat, craft, ship or other vessel which is used for equipped to be used for, or of a type used for - fishing; or - aiding or assisting other boat, craft, ship or other vessel in the performance of any activity related to fishing, including any of the activities of preparation, processing, refrigeration, storage, supply or transportation of fish.

Source of Measure : - Fisheries Act 1985 [Act 317] - Lembaga Kemajuan Ikan Malaysia Act 1971 [Act 49] - Exclusive Economic Zone Act 1984 [Act 311] - Continental Shelf Act 1966 [Act 83] - National Land Code [Act 56]

(6) For the purpose of this reservation, the term ‘foreign fishing vessels' can be found in Section 2 Fisheries Act 1985 [Act 317]
(7) For greater certainty, under the (Fisheries Act 1985) [Act 317], "Malaysian fisheries waters" means maritime waters under the jurisdiction of Malaysia over which exclusive fishing rights or fisheries management rights are claimed by law and includes the internal waters of Malaysia, the territorial sea of Malaysia and the maritime waters comprised in the exclusive economic zone of Malaysia.

15.

Sector: Agriculture

Sub-Sector: Services Incidental to Agriculture

Industry Classification: ISIC Division 01 CPC 8811 – 8813

Level of Government; Central and Regional

Type of Obligation: National Treatment

Description of Measure: Equity ownership must be in line with the national development objectives of growth with equity in order to meet distributional goals.

Source of Measure: - National Agricultural Policy. - Administrative guidelines.

16.

Sector : Forestry

Sub-Sector: - Services Incidental to Forestry - Extraction and Harvesting of Timber - Forest Plantation

Industry Classification : ISIC Division 02 CPC 8814

Level of Government : Central and Regional

Type of Obligation : National Treatment

Description of Measure : Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure relating to forest plantation. Extraction and harvesting of timber is closed to foreign investors in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. However, for Sarawak, local involvement and majority local control is required. Forest areas to be opened for such activities shall be gradually reduced in the future to enable the resources to be managed sustainably. Services incidental to extraction and harvesting of timber is closed to foreign investors in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. However, for Sarawak, maximum foreign equity ownership allowed is 30%; flexibility could be considered.

Source of Measure : - National Forestry Act 1984 [Act 313] F.M.S Forest Enactment 1934 Johor Forest Enactment Kedah Forest Enactment Kelantan Forest Enactment Perlis Forest Enactment S.S Forest Ordinance Sabah Forest Enactment Sarawak Forest Ordinance Terengganu Forest Enactment Administrative guidelines

17.

Sector : Mining and Quarrying

Sub-Sector: - Services Incidental Quarrying to Mining and Oil and Gas Upstream Industries

Industry Classification : ISIC Divisions 10 to 14 CPC 883

Level of Government : Central and Regional

Type of Obligation : National Treatment Senior Management and Board of Directors

Description of Measure : PETRONAS and its successor are vested with the entire ownership in, and the exclusive rights, powers, liberties and privileges, which shall be irrevocable, in exploring, exploiting, winning and obtaining petroleum whether onshore or offshore of Malaysia. Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measures relating to the oil and gas upstream industry including related activities.

Source of Measure : - Petroleum Development Act 1974 [Act 144] - Petroleum Mining Act 1966 [Act 95]

18.

Sector : Mining and Quarrying

Sub-Sector : - Services Incidental Quarrying to Mining and Other mining and quarrying activities

Industry Classification : ISIC Divisions 10 to 14 CPC 883

Level of Government : Central and Regional

Type of Obligation : National Treatment Senior Management and Board of Directors

Description of Measure : Malaysia reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measures relating to mining and quarrying activities. Joint ventures with state or statelinked enterprises may be required.

Source of Measure : - Minerals Development Act 1994 [Act 525] - State Mineral Enactments

Myanmar

1.

Sector: Manufacturing Sector

Sub-Sector: - Distilling, blending, rectifying, bottling and marketing of all kinds of sprits, beverages and non-beverages (ISIC 1551) - Manufacture of malt and malt liquors, beer and other brewery products (ISIC 1553) - Manufacture of soft beverages, aerated and non-aerated products (ISIC 1554) - Manufacture of cigarettes (ISIC 1600) - Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper board (ISIC 2101)

Industry Classification: ISIC 1551, 1553, 1554, 1600, 2101

Level of Government: Central

Type of Obligation: National Treatment

Description of Measure:

(1) A foreign investor is not allowed to establish an enterprise in (a) distilling, blending, rectifying, bottling and marketing of all kinds of spirits, beverages and non-beverages; and (b) manufacture of malt and malt liquors, beer and other brewery products, except through joint-venture with local citizen.

(2) In the manufacture of soft beverages, aerated and non- aerated products a foreign investor must use at least 20% local raw materials. Local cropping raw materials must be used at least 60% after 3 years of factory completion.

(3) A foreign investor is allowed in the manufacture of cigarettes, provided it exports 90% of its produce and (a) it shall use minimum 50% domestically produced tobacco leaves within the first (3) years of operation; or (b) It shall be allowed to use imported tobacco leaves which are bought with at least 50% of the income obtained by exporting domestically tobacco leaves.

(4) For Manufacture of pulp, paper and paper board (ISIC 2101), no new permits are issued to foreign investors (1). Integrated project is compulsory. Integrated project means combining of all plants into a whole Mill which compose Pulp Plant, Paper Plant, Chemical Plant, Recovery Plant, Power Plant and Waste Water Treatment Plant etc.

Source of Measure : - The Foreign Investment Law (2012). - The Foreign Investment Rules(2013) - Myanmar Investment Commission Notification No.(1/2013) - Control of Smoking and Consumption of Tobacco Product Law (2006) - National Food Law(1997) - The Private Industrial Enterprise Law(1990) - Administrative Guideline.

(1) According to the Union of Myanmar Foreign Investment Law, "Foreign Investor" means a person or an economic organization making an investment under a permit.

2.

Sector: Manufacturing and Services incidental to Manufacturing

Sub-Sector: - Manufacture of pharmaceutical drugs (ISIC 2423) - Services incidental to manufacture of pharmaceuticals (CPC 88570)

Industry Classification: ISIC 2423, CPC 88570

Level of Government: Central

Type of Obligation: National Treatment

Description of Measure:

For Manufacture of pharmaceutical drugs: Foreign investors are not allowed to manufacture traditional medicines (2). However, they can be allowed if they follow the terms and conditions prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

For Services incidental to manufacture of Pharmaceuticals: Only allowed to State-owned Enterprises under the Ministry. (3) Require permission from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Ministry of Health.

Source of Measure: - The Foreign Investment Law (2012). - The Foreign Investment Rules(2013) - Myanmar Investment Commission Notification No (1/2013) - National Drug Law (1992). The Private Industrial Enterprise Law(1990)

(2) Traditional medicine (also known as indigenous or folk medicine) comprises knowledge systems that developed over generations within various societies before the era of modern medicine. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as: "the health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporation plant, animal and mineral-based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual, techniques and exercises, applied singularly or combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being."
(3) State-Owned Enterprises means enterprises owned or controlled by the respective ministries under the state budget.

3.

Sector: Manufacturing Sector

Sub-Sector: - Manufacture of Refined Petroleum Products ( ISIC 2320) - Services incidental to manufacture of refined petroleum products (CPC 88450)

Industry Classification: ISIC 2320, CPC 88450

Level of Government: Central

Type of Obligation: National Treatment

Description of Measure: State-owned Economic Enterprises are allowed to operate oil refining and undertake refining activities. Myanmar Nationals/ Myanmar Companies (4) , Foreigners/Foreign Companies established under the existing Laws of Myanmar can be allowed to operate oil refining and refining activities on Joint Venture or 100% investment subject to the rules and regulations of the Ministry of Energy.

Source of Measure: - State-owned Economic Enterprises Law (1989). - The Foreign Investment Law (2012). - The Foreign Investment Rules(2013) - Myanmar Investment Commission Notification No (1/2013) - Directives. - Myanmar Citizens Investment Law (1994.)

Justification: For national interest. According to the section 4 of the State-owned Economic Enterprises Law (SEEs), the Government may, by notification, permit in the interest of the Union of Myanmar any economic enterprise which is prescribed under the Section 3, to be operated solely by the Government to be carried out by joint-venture between the Government and any other person or any other organization or under conditions by any person or any economic organization subject to conditions.

(4) Myanmar Companies are companies solely-owned or controlled by Myanmar Nationals.

5.

Sector: Forestry and Services Incidental to Forestry

Sub-Sector: - Production and extraction of hard-wood (4) from the natural forest (5) (ISIC 0200) - Services incidental to Forestry (CPC 8814) • Extraction of logs from the natural forests • Protected areas system (6)

Industry Classification: ISIC 0200 CPC 8814

Level of Government: Central

Type of Obligation: National Treatment

Description of Measure: Only allowed to State-owned Enterprise under the Ministry

Source of Measure: - Forest Policy (1995). - State-owned Economic Enterprises Law (1989) - Forest Law (1992) - Protection of Wildlife and Wild Plants and Conservation of Natural Areas Law (1994)

Justification : Conservation of forest resources and the environment. Biodiversity conservation

(4) Hard-wood is used to describe wood from non-monocot angiosperm trees and for those trees themselves. These are usually board-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitude they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.
(5) Natural forests are the forest which might be managed to some degree or unmanaged. After an adequate amount of time without intervention, such a forest might develop some of the basic structure of virgin forest.
(6) Protected Areas System is an area of land/or sea especially dedicated to the production of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means (IUCN, 1994).

6.

Sector: Fishery

Sub-Sector: Fishing of marine fish, prawns and other aquatic organisms

Industry Classification: ISIC 0500

Level of Government: Central

Type of Obligation: National Treatment

  • Article   1 Objective 1
  • Article   2 Guiding Principles 1
  • Article   3 Scope of Application 1
  • Article   4 Definitions 1
  • Article   5 National Treatment 1
  • Article   6 Most-favoured-nation Treatment (4) 1
  • Article   7 Prohibition of Performance Requirements 1
  • Article   8 Senior Management and Board of Directors 1
  • Article   9 Reservations 1
  • Article   10 Modification of Commitments 1
  • Article   11 Treatment of Investment 1
  • Article   12 Compensation In Cases of Strife 1
  • Article   13 Transfers 1
  • Article   14 Expropriation and compensation (9) 2
  • Article   15 Subrogation 2
  • Article   16 Measures to safeguard the balance-of-payments 2
  • Article   17 General exceptions 2
  • Article   18 Security exceptions 2
  • Article   19 Denial of benefits 2
  • Article   20 Special formalities and disclosure of information 2
  • Article   21 Transparency 2
  • Article   22 Entry, temporary stay and work of investors and key personnel 2
  • Article   23 Special and differential treatment for the newer asean member states 2
  • Article   24 Promotion of investment 2
  • Article   25 Facilitation of investment 2
  • Article   26 Enhancing asean integration 2
  • Article   27 Disputes between or among member states 2
  • Section   B Investment dispute between an investor and a member state 2
  • Article   28 Definitions 2
  • Article   29 Scope of coverage 2
  • Article   30 Conciliation 2
  • Article   31 Consultations 2
  • Article   32 Claim by an investor of a member state 2
  • Article   33 Submission of a claim 2
  • Article   34 Conditions and limitations on submission of a claim 3
  • Article   35 Selection of arbitrators 3
  • Article   36 Conduct of the arbitration 3
  • Article   37 Consolidation 3
  • Article   38 Expert reports 3
  • Article   39 Transparency of arbitral proceedings 3
  • Article   40 Governing law 3
  • Article   41 Awards 3
  • Article   42 Institutional arrangements 3
  • Article   43 Consultations by member states 3
  • Article   44 Relation to other agreements 3
  • Article   45 Annexes, schedule and future instruments 3
  • Article   46 Amendments 3
  • Article   47 Transitional arrangements relating to the asean iga and the aia agreement 3
  • Article   48 Entry into force 3
  • Article   49 Depositary 3
  • ANNEX 1  Approval in writing 3
  • ANNEX 2  Expropriation and compensation 3
  • Modality for the elimination/improvement of investment restrictions and impediments in asean member states 3
  • Protocol to amend the asean comprehensive investment agreement 4
  • 1 Amendment to article 9 (reservations) of the acia 4
  • 2 Amendments to article 10 (modification of commitments) of the acia 4
  • 3 Amendments to article 42 (institutional arrangements) of the acia 4
  • 4 Insertion of annex 3 to the acia 4
  • 5 Transitory provisions 4
  • 6 Final provisions 4
  • Appendix 1  Template for notification 4
  • Appendix 2  Supplementary note 4
  • Second protocol to amend the asean comprehensive investment agreement 4
  • 1 Amendment to the definition of 'natural person' 4
  • 2 Amendments to article 7 (prohibition of performance requirements)' 4
  • 3 Final provisions' 4
  • Schedule to the asean comprehensive investment agreement  5
  • HEADNOTE  List of reservations 5
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