Malaysia aims to build on Arab trade links

Malaysian business personalities are set to explore current business opportunities in the Middle East at a major conference to be held in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 21 and 22. Investors, economists, decision-makers in both the public and private sectors and other concerned personalities from Malaysia and the Arab world will take part in the event. The Malaysia Global Business Forum (MGBF) and the Arab-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce (AMCC) are jointly organizing the forum. Its theme will be "Malaysia and the Arab World: Strategic Partners". Muhkriz bin Mahathir, deputy minister of trade and industry, will deliver the keynote speech. Mahmoud Radwan, chairman of the Arab Malaysia Chamber of Commerce, and Mahmoud Al-Rabeeah, secretary general of the Arab Economic Council, will address the opening session. The forum will explore investment opportunities in Malaysia, discuss prospects of bilateral cooperation between the Arab world and Malaysia and debate ways and means of further deepening economic and trade relations between the two sides. "The forum will enable the Malaysian businessmen to explore the current business opportunities in the Middle East and will also provide the Arab participants to have a first-hand assessment of business prospects in Asia in general and Malaysia in particular," a member of the organizing committee said. He said the forum will also provide networking opportunities. "The natural synergies between Malaysia and the Middle East can now be exploited for the mutual benefit while developing strong business links which can be forged during this time," he added. Organizers said a number of Arab ambassadors in Malaysia would attend the forum to highlight the prospects of cooperation between their countries and Malaysia. Among others, they will include envoys from Qatar, Libya and the UAE. They said a number of industrial, commercial and service companies from Malaysia will take part in the forum to discuss opportunities of joint ventures with their Arab counterparts. They said the presence of a number of Malaysian government officials in the forum would facilitate the process of decision making and will assure the Arab participants with the involvement of the government as a guarantor to joint ventures. The Malaysian companies attending the forum will consist of establishments working in the industry of Halal food, electronics, basic infrastructure, roads, railways, tourism and other sectors.