ECERDC Mission to Middle East, Timely says Envoy

5/10/2010 — BERNAMA
The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC)’s investment mission to the Middle East, in particular to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is very timely, says the Malaysian Ambassador to UAE, Datuk Yahaya Abdul Jabar.
He said the embassy and various government agencies in UAE welcomed ECERDC’s visit as “we feel the time is good to tap the opportunities here”.
“The UAE itself is looking to invest overseas through their sovereign funds and government-linked entities.
“They are not only looking at traditional areas in which they had invested before in Europe and America but are also focusing their attention now towards Asia,” he told Bernama after the council meeting chaired by Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Abdullah is leading an ECERDC Investment Mission to the Middle East between May 7 and 17, aimed at attracting investors from the Gulf as well as enhance bilateral business relations between Malaysia and Middle East countries.
Members of the delegation, among others, include ECERDC’s Chief Executive Officer Datuk Jebasingham Issace John, Halal Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin and Deputy Pahang State Secretary(Development) Datuk Mahadiah Mohamad.
ECERDC is offering integrated packages to investors from the Gulf region, which includes attractive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives, abundant natural resources, good infrastructure and ready supply of human capital.
Yahaya said:”I think it is good timing that the officials are here to promote investments to the East Coast Economic region.
“The presence of our delegation here would be good to network, introduce our development concept and priority areas for investment.
“It is good to maintain the level of contact because in the UAE, they value personal touch, especially when people come and talk directly to them, about what they have to offer,” he said.
Yahaya was optimistic the ECERDC mission would be able to attract potential UAE investors to the ECER.
“We have had several other missions from Malaysia here to woo UAE investors but I think the Eastern Corridor is an attractive region for foreign investments.
“It has a number of good proposals which has been discussed and put forward to potential investors here,” he said, adding the embassy was willing to help and work with ECERDC to promote it as an investment destination.