DETROIT— International businesspeople described Malaysia as one of the most modern Muslim countries in the world during a conference on U.S.-Malaysian business opportunities at the MGM Grand Casino May 15.

“Kuala Lumpur looks like any American city, from its stores to its restaurants,” said Mark Baker, senior vice president and global operations officer of Steelcase, Inc., a Grand Rapids-based metal office furniture company that started manufacturing in Malaysia in 2001 in a joint venture with a company that was initially its rival.

Muhyiddin Yassin, minister of international trade and industry in Malaysia, pitched benefits of doing business in the Southeast Asian country, and offered reassurances of safety.

“Malaysia is the most open and friendly Muslim country in the world. There has never been a bomb threat or suicide bombings reported in the entire country. We are the most progressive, liberal, Muslim country.”

He said the government is making efforts to ease trade restrictions, making things easier for companies. The country is working towards the removal of tariffs by 2015.

“Steelcase is a good example of what Malaysia is looking for,” Yassin said. “We can make trade and business easier.”

“With the effort by not only the government but also U.S. corporations, we can make trade unproblematic,” he added.

He said most Malaysians speak English fluently from factory level employees to CEOs.

Baker told about his company’s experience in Malaysia at the event organized by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority and the Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation.

“There are three keys to success in Malaysia,” Baker said. “Be patient. Be willing to make appropriate investments in people. See diversity as a strength.

“You could put a blindfold on and walk through the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Insecurity has never been an issue,” said Baker.

The Indian/Pakistani rupee and the Singaporean ringgit are currently Malaysia’s trade currencies.

Yassin said Malaysia is part of an effort to make a halal, or kosher, international brand that would be exported to countries like the United States that has a growing Muslim community. “This is a joint venture we are working on with Islamic organizations in the U.S.,” said Yassin.

The brand will use halal substances in replacement of gelatin required in some pastries, and will adhere to a global halal standard.

 “The Islamic organization we are working with will be using Malaysian halal, zabiha standards,” Yassin said.

“Our main focus is to establish relations with Malaysian companies to import or export products with the U.S., making sure the merchandise is of good quality and the transaction a smooth process,” he added.