MELBOURNE, July 9 -– Membership of the Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC) Victoria chapter is increasing rapidly, from a low 20s about four years ago to almost 80 now, with the prospect of hitting the 100 mark in the next 12 months.

The upsurge is the result of the variety of bilateral activities being held to draw Australian business people to the council.

"We have more than 600 companies, individuals, SMEs on our database that are not members, but want to be kept informed of our AMBC activities and to receive updates on our bilateral developments," AMBC Victoria president Joe Perri told Bernama.

The signing of the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement has increased the awareness of the opportunities Malaysia offers in trade and investment.

The opening  of the Malaysian Consulate and the Malaysian Investment and Development Authority (Mida) offices here has been welcomed by the business community because it has made it easy for them to source market information before venturing to Malaysia.

Perri said the council had a "close professional and friendly working relationship" with Victorian government departments.

"We also worked closely with Matrade, Mida, Austrade, the Victorian business office in Kuala Lumpur and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade," he said.

Perri said Malaysia's Consul General here Datuk Dr Mohd Rameez Yahaya had been particularly active and helpful in promoting bilateral trade.

"He has allowed us to use the consulate premises for our meetings and makes it a point to invite AMBC officers and members to meet and talk business with visiting ministers and other VIPs from Malaysia," Perri said.

The AMBC chief said its 2014-15 AMBC Victoria Members Business Directory had just been released and would be useful for the business community in Victoria.

"Many of our members have very practical hands-on experience and expertise on doing business in Malaysia which is now available in our directory," he said.

Malaysians who want to trade or operate a business in Victoria will fine the directory useful.

Last week AMBC launched its Victorian website. Its primary function is to provide easily accessible content to members and businesses that want to obtain an insight into the export and commercial opportunities in Malayaia, Perri said. — Bernama