Malaysia out to drum up investments from Mideast

1/29/2011 — Business Times
Over 100 delegates from the public and private sectors as well as government-linked companies from Malaysia gathered here with the aim to market opportunities in Malaysia and mobilise multi-billion ringgit investments from the Middle East to the country.
They will be joined by some 200 potential investors from the Middle East at Invest Malaysia 2011 Forum tomorrow.
The East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC), which is part of the Malaysian delegation, is eyeing some RM1 billion investments from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
ECERDC chief executive officer Datuk Jebasingam Issace, who is leading the ECER team to the region, said they will be meeting key players in the Middle Eastern tourism, agriculture and manufacturing industries.
He said in conjunction with the forum, ECERDC is also organising an investment mission to UAE and Saudi Arabia from Wednesday to February 6.
The investment mission will see the council delegates conducting several business meetings with potential investors in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE, as well as Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
“We expect our second investment mission to UAE and Saudi Arabia to generate investment leads and deals worth nearly RM1 billion,” he told Business Times in an email interview.
Invest Malaysia Forum, to be graced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, General Sheikh Mohammed Zayed Sultan Al Nahyan, will feature talks and discussions involving key speakers from Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) business and investment community.
In conjunction with the forum, Malaysia will sign a framework agreement on economic and investment with the GCC.
Najib will also launch the Invest Malaysia 2011 special report, featuring an insider’s perspective of the business and investment opportunities in Malaysia.
The 64-page report, produced by UAE-based media company Focus International, in cooperation with Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), contains extensive overview of the economy.
Among areas that are expected to attract Arab investors include Islamic finance, real estate, hotel and tourism, healthcare, regional establishments, logistics and distributive trade services.
Besides International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, the forum will also see participation by, among others, the Malaysia Industrial Development Authority, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Bank Negara Malaysia, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Tanjung Manis Halal Hub, Sarawak Energy Bhd, KPJ Healthcare Bhd and Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd.
Among areas that are expected to attract Arab investors include Islamic finance, real estate, hotel and tourism, healthcare, regional establishments, logistics and distributive trade services.
Besides International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, the forum will also see participation by, among others, the Malaysia Industrial Development Authority, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Bank Negara Malaysia, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Tanjung Manis Halal Hub, Sarawak Energy Bhd, KPJ Healthcare Bhd and Maju Expressway Sdn Bhd.