Malaysia - Countries of the World

[nazrey]

Saudis seek Malaysia's help to develop SMEs
From Hamisah Hamid Published: 2011/02/02
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...ijdab/Article/

ABU DHABI: Saudi Arabia, which is setting up a body responsible for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), seeks Malaysia's help in developing the SME sector in the country.

Dr Fawaz Al Alamy, the adviser to Saudi Arabia government agencies and the private sector, said the country would like to learn from Malaysia.

"Malaysia is well-known for its SMEs. We appreciate Malaysia's help in this area," he told Business Times in an interview here.

Fawaz was one of the panel speakers at the recent Invest Malaysia 2011 Forum, held in the capital city of United Arab Emirates.

Currently, SMEs form 90 per cent of all Saudi companies, yet the sector only contributes a quarter of total employment and about a third of the country's gross domestic product. Only 2 per cent of banks' total lending goes to its SMEs.

Saudi Arabia's Ninth Economic Plan (2010-2014) recognises the importance of SMEs in the development of the country.

Its Shura Council has approved the creation of an SME Authority to formulate policy and coordinate the SME sector to enhance its contribution to Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer and exporter.

So far, Malaysia and Saudi do not have a concrete collaboration in the SME area. But bilateral investment between both countries is increasing, in Saudi Arabia's favour.

Fawaz said Malaysia has invested in Saudi Arabia's industrial sector, information technology (IT) and services.

The country is also seeking foreign direct investments (FDIs) in areas like medical healthcare, food production, halal meat production and education such as in IT and high-tech universities.

"We (Saudi Arabia and Malaysia) have a good relationship and we seek to develop that further," he said.

Fawaz said there is no projection on investment from Malaysia this year, but added that Saudi Arabia has been recognised by the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business as the 11th most competitive investment destination in the world.

He said the country is also the largest recipient of FDIs in the Middle East and the eighth largest globally.

Fawaz said both Saudi Arabia and Malaysia will benefit from the Framework Agreement on Economic, Commercial, Investment and Technical Cooperation, which was signed between Malaysia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday.

"What is important is that the framework agreement will turn into a free trade area (FTA)," he said.

Malaysia and the GCC are expected to start FTA talks as early as this month.

[nazrey]

Govt may use navy ship to evacuate M’sians in Egypt
Posted on February 2, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=91400



LABIS: The government is mulling over using the navy’s auxiliary ship currently deployed in the Gulf of Aden to assist the evacuation of Malaysian students from troubled Egypt.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the ship would take the students from Egypt to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to enable them to take flights to Malaysia.

“We do have plans to utilise the assets of the armed forces, including the navy ship currently deployed at the Gulf of Aden, to take them out of Egypt,” he told reporters after visiting the flood victims at Kampung Ayer Panas here yesterday.

Najib was asked to comment on the concerns raised by the families of Malaysians in Egypt following the widespread unrest in major Egyptian cities, with demonstrators calling for an end to President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.

The navy’s auxiliary ship currently involved in anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden is KD Bunga Mas.

There are about 10,000 Malaysian students in Egypt.

The prime minister said the government had sent officers to the country to assess the situation and ensure the Malaysians are safe.

On the possibility of using the C-130 transport aircraft, he said, it was not practical because it could only take 40 passengers.

“We are also not sure of the availability of ground-handling crew at the airports there,” he said.

Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor as well as Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Najib said the government understood the concern raised by the families of the Malaysian students but said that the government cannot act in a hasty manner.
— Bernama

[Diggerdog]

Out of Africa restaurant and Kudu Bar - South Africa place in PJ - check it out...excellent steaks and ribs, really authentic big thatched African style place.

And the bar is awesome.

http://www.outofafrica.com.my/

[sc4]

That's really quite an unusual location for an African outlet....Hmmmm....

[Diggerdog]

Why is PJ an unusual place for a South African outlet? It is part of that big sports complex there...

Whilst on the subject, do you guys know that Nando's is South African? A lot of people think it is portuguese, but it is one of South Africa's most successful food exports...

[nazrey]

Top Symphony undertakes US$1b Fiji project
By Kamarul Yunus Published: 2011/02/07
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Little-known Top Symphony of Malaysia is undertaking a US$1 billion (RM3.04 billion) project to transform Waila City in Fiji into a self-contained city that will support a population of 25,000 people.

The Waila City project will involve the construction of houses and related facilities for about 5,000 families and the development of 280ha of land at Waila, Nausori, over 10 years.

Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama said the project will be the first of its kind in Fiji where under a design-and-build concept, the contractor will use its own funds and deliver completed housing to the Fiji Housing Authority.

"This project also signifies what we can achieve through collaboration between the public and private sectors. In this instance, it is Top Symphony of Malaysia, Exim Bank of Malaysia, Housing Authority and the government of Fiji," he said in his speech at the launch of the project recently. His speech text was posted on the Fiji government's online portal.

Bainimarama said the development of the Waila City project will see the Housing Authority move towards building communities in a more holistic manner.

"Facilities such as educational-tertiary facilities, commercial and industrial building, hospitals, police stations, religious sites and a sports complex will be part of the project that will be deployed in phases over a period of about seven to 10 years," he said.

The Waila City development will also provide opportunities to many small businesses.

"The multiplier effect of a robust housing industry must benefit all, not just a handful," he said.

In an earlier report posted on this website, Top Symphony managing director Dr Sharifuddin Wahab said Waila City will consist of various housing designs and these houses will be friendly to young couple who are starting life in the form of two-room walk-up flats all the way to families requiring three to four bedrooms.

[idiamindada]

Originally Posted by Diggerdog

Why is PJ an unusual place for a South African outlet? It is part of that big sports complex there...

Whilst on the subject, do you guys know that Nando's is South African? A lot of people think it is portuguese, but it is one of South Africa's most successful food exports...

damn….i tot it's from portugal…sorry


PJ is actually is not a 'tourist-centered' place, only locals hang out there. so it's considered 'unusual'.

[sc4]

I was referring to the exact location beside A&W......if it was located in other parts of PJ like Damansara Perdana or Curve, it would be a more suitable one....

[Diggerdog]

Ok, well, it is a very popular place (with locals it seems, not just SA expats). Worth a visit, especially if there is some sort of big sport on TV - they have DSTV satellite which shows just about everything in the sporting world.

[nazrey]

Bank Negara to invest in Indian bonds
By Rupa Damodaran Published: 2011/02/10
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has registered as a foreign institutional investor (FII) in India, enabling it to invest in the country's debts and bonds.

The move makes it the first central bank to choose to buy rupee-denominated debt issued by the Indian government and top Indian companies.

According to Mumbai-based mydigitalfc.com report, this could be a first for any central bank to invest in India utilising the FII route as others have invested in the republic through the Reserve Bank of India.

It described the move as significant because India does not allow full capital account convertibility.

"A move by a leading central bank of the Islamic nation comes as a vote of confidence in the Indian economy and the monetary management of the Reserve Bank of India."

The report quoted Clearing Corp of India's RH Patil as saying that it had become a global practice as central banks used to invest in the US and UK securities but now were seeking diversification by investing in Indian securities.

It said the Indian government had also raised the limit of FII investment in government securities by US$5 billion to US$10 billion (RM15 billion to RM30.4 billion) late last year.

Two years ago, BNM also won a QFII or qualified foreign institutional investor licence to invest in renminbi-denominated Chinese stocks and bonds.

Diversification of its foreign reserves has been a priority of the central bank following the Asian financial crisis when its reserves sank to US$17 billion (RM52 billion ) before rising to US$30 billion (RM91 billion) post-crisis.

As at end-January 2011,the reserves totalled US$108.1 billion (RM328 billion).

The central bank had spoken about the need to increase and deepen the regional financial integration with the rising prospects of intra-regional trade in Asia and as investment requirements jump to the tune of trillions of dollars.Maybankard 2 Cards. 2 is all you need. Find out more.

Its investments in emerging economies are also significant as both the Chinese and Indian economies are now important growth centres in the global economy.

With China now becoming Malaysia's largest trading partner, BNM and People's Bank of China signed a bilateral currency swap arrangement in 2009.

This swap arrangement serves as a key platform to promote trade and investment linkages between both countries.

[nazrey]

Syria offers US$30b infra jobs
Published: 2011/02/11
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Syria is offering Malaysian contractors US$30 billion worth of infrastructure projects under a five-year Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme.

Syria Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah Al-Dardari said under the programme, which started last year, the government and the private sector would invest US$100 billion for the development of productive sectors, human development and infrastructures.

"Of the US$100 billion, US$30 billion will be spent for infrastructure projects, including building the US$1.8 billion North-South and East-West Toll Road and US$400 million Great Damascus Bypass Road," he told a dialogue with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) today.

Present were CIDB chairman Datuk Ir Hamzah Hasan and Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnous.

Abdullah said Malaysian contractors, especially highway construction, are welcomed to participate in his country's growing construction sector. - BERNAMA

[mbmoncada]

Originally Posted by nazrey

Pristine Oil to develop storage terminal in Malacca
By Ooi Tee Ching Published: 2009/11/13



SOUTH Korean contractor Samjung TCN-MSK Corp Sdn Bhd has secured a RM700 million job from Pristine Oil Capital Sdn Bhd to build 36 petroleum storage tanks on 36.4ha at Pulau Besar, Malacca.

"We're developing Melaka Oil Storage Terminal with Siemens Malaysia and Samjung TCN-MSK Corp," said Pristine Oil group chief executive officer Capt Kamarulzaman Mohamad.

"Siemens will be putting up the 5MW power plant for US$50 million (RM169 million)," he told reporters after awarding the contract to the South Korean contractor in a signing ceremony in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Also present was Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk T Murugiah.

Kamarulzaman said Pristine Oil is seeking to secure a syndicated loan and investment totalling RM900 million from local banks and an investor to fund the venture.

He expects to finalise the loan terms by the first quarter of 2010. The 36-month job is scheduled to kick off in the second quarter and be completed by mid-2013.

A year ago, when Pristine Oil signed Siemens to build the 5MW power plant at Pulau Besar, it was estimated that the petroleum tank farm development will cost about RM700 million and be completed by mid-2010.

Since then, Kamarulzaman said Pristine Oil wanted to increase the storage facility to 36 tanks instead of just 25.

"We're serious about this development. We've paid RM400,000 in land premium and RM100,000 commitment fee to the Malacca state government. Also, there's RM60,000 in ex-gratia for the fishermen association there," he said.

Im wondering what happend to this project. No other updates was publised about this.

[nazrey]

Najib’s visit to enhance Malaysia-Turkey ties
Posted on February 23, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=95550



WELCOME: Gul welcomes Najib (left) at the palace. — Bernama photo

ISTANBUL: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived here yesterday for a three-day official visit to enhance existing bilateral relations and cooperation between Malaysia and Turkey.

This is his first official visit to Turkey since assuming the premiership in April 2009.

The prime minister is accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, as well as Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Amah, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and several members of parliament and senior government officials.

Foreign Minister Anifah had said the visit would provide an excellent opportunity for Najib and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to renew their friendship and exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

The special aircraft carrying Najib and his delegation touched down at the Ataturk International Airport here at about 6pm (12pm Malaysian Time).

Najib made a courtesy call on President Abdullah Gul at his Tarabya Residence here before proceeding to Ankara.

In Ankara, his programme includes a private meeting with his counterpart Erdogan as well as a delegation meeting between the Malaysian and Turkish sides, headed by the respective prime ministers.

Najib is also scheduled to witness the signing of an MoU between SME Corp.

Malaysia and KOSGEB (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organisation) of Turkey and an agreement between DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd of Malaysia and FNSS Savunma Sistemleri AS of Turkey.

He is also scheduled to participate in the Malaysia-Turkey Business Roundtable Talks organised by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) and the Global Movement for Justice, Peace and Dignity co-organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) and International Movement for a Just World (JUST). — Bernama

[nazrey]

Visa-free travel among new deals
2011/02/24 Sharif Haron reporting from Ankara
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/V...deals/Article/



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak being welcomed by his Turkish
counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his arrival for the welcoming ceremony
at the Prime Minister’s Office grounds in Ankara on Tuesday.
— Reuters picture

MALAYSIA and Turkey held a bilateral meeting here on Tuesday with both sides agreeing to take their relations to new heights.

MALAYSIA and Turkey held a bilat - eral meeting here on Tuesday with both sides agreeing to take their relations to new heights.

Some of the decisions reached included abolishing visa requirement for citizens of both countries, and resumption of Turkish Airlines’ direct flights to Kuala Lumpur from Istanbul to facilitate people-to-people contact.

Both sides agreed to work on a framework agreement to be concluded this year along with their ongoing free trade agreement negotiations to unleash bilateral trade potential.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan led their respective delegations at the meeting.

Both leaders later declared t his would open a new era in Malaysian- Turkish relations.

Earlier, Najib was given an official welcoming ceremony by Erdogan at the prime minister’s office grounds. It was the first official visit by a Malaysian prime minister to Turkey since 1983.

“This is a special visit,” Erdogan said at a joint press conference after the bilateral meeting.

“After 28 years, this is the first time t he re ’s a visit from Malaysia to Turkey at the prime minister level.

This is significant.” Najib said he was “delighted to be able to make this visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Erdogan”.

He said the decision to lift the visa requirement was significant as it would enhance contacts between people of the two nations.

Prior to this, citizens of the two countries were exempted from visa requirements for t r ave l s of up to 90 d ay s.

In welcoming Turkish Airlines’ re - sumption of direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, Najib said Malaysia Airlines might increase its frequency to Turkey, too. At present, MAS flies to Istanbul three times a week.

In another step to promote relations, both leaders agreed to organise “Malaysia Year” in Turkey and a “Turkey Year” in Malaysia soon.

Najib said the proposed framework agreement would be targeted for completion by year-end to coincide with the FTA.

“I have extended an invitation to Prime Minister Erdogan to visit Malaysia at the end of this year so thatwe can sign two momentous and significant agreements that will open a new chapter, in fact, a new era, between the two countries.

“Of course we have much in common.

Some of us also have the same origin andwe need to rediscover that joint heritage.

“We should not take it for granted, we should rediscover that, and it could be a strong basis for closer people-to-people relationship.” Najib said the outcome of the meeting had given the right signals to the business community.

He named the automotive, oil and gas, and defence-related industries as among the areas that would benefit from the bilateral relations.

To Erdogan’s suggestion that bilateral trade volume could be increased to US$5 billion (RM15 billion) a year from the present US$1.2 billi on, Najib said: “US$1.2 billion doesn’t do justice to the importance of bilateral cooperation and I cannot agree more with the prime minister.

“US$5 billion is not too ambitious.” On the uprising and unrest in some Arab countries, Najib said the so common.

Some of us also have the same origin andwe need to rediscover that joint heritage.

“We should not take it for granted, we should rediscover that, and it could be a strong basis for closer people-to-people relationship.” Najib said the outcome of the meeting had given the right signals to the business community.

He named the automotive, oil and gas, and defence-related industries as among the areas that would benefit from the bilateral relations.

To Erdogan’s suggestion that bilateral trade volume could be increased to US$5 billion (RM15 billion) a year from the present US$1.2 billi on, Najib said: “US$1.2 billion doesn’t do justice to the importance of bilateral cooperation and I cannot agree more with the prime minister.

“US$5 billion is not too ambitious.” On the uprising and unrest in some Arab countries, Najib said the solution to ensure stability was for them to adopt good governance based on the principles of democracy.

“But it is important that we listen to the people and the people are given the right kind of avenues for them to express their aspirations and hopes for the future.” Ye st erd ay, Najib was in Istanbul where he attended the Malaysia- Turkey business roundtable talks organised by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority.

He also joined the discussions at the global movement for justice, peace and dignity forum co-organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies and International Movement for a Just World before returning home.

During his three-day official visit, Najib was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, several ministers, members of parliament and senior government officials.


Turkey's Soyut to set up turbine plant in Malaysia
Published: 2011/02/24
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...soyum/Article/

ISTANBUL: Turkey's Soyut Group, which has interests in energy, construction and finance, may apply to regulators in November to list shares in its investment unit, a company official said on Wednesday.

The investment unit will own shares in all Soyut Group companies, Ali Colak, a member of the Soyut Enerji board, said in an interview. Ankara-based Soyut Group had revenues of 65 million lira in 2010, he added.

Colak also said Soyut Enerji, a wind turbine maker, and Malaysia's Melewar Industrial Group plan an initial investment of 30 million euros in a production plant.

The turbine factory will be built in Malaysia and have capacity to produce 40 megawatts annually, Colak said. - Reuters

[nazrey]

PhD student, family return to Christchurch home
2011/02/24
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/8thu/Article/

KUALA LUMPUR: Things have returned to normal for English language instructor and PhD student Abdullah Mohd Nawi and his family. Almost.

The Malaysian in Christchurch, his wife and children have returned to their home there.

The family had stayed at a friend's house following the earthquake which hit the Kiwi city after the electricity supply to his home was cut off.

"The electricity supply has been restored and we are now back home," he said in a phone interview from Christchurch.

Asked how his family was managing, Abdullah said they were coping well but his wife suffered from migraines and his 4-year-old son did not want to sleep alone.

"He is afraid to sleep alone and just wants to be close to his parents."

He said he and his friends had gone out at 7am looking for supplies but found the shops and supermarkets damaged, with smashed bottles and other items lying on the roads.

"But, somehow, we managed to find a small bakery and bought five loaves of bread.

"People were slowly beginning to come to the bakery but thankfully, we were early," said Abdullah, adding that he managed to catch two hours of sleep within 48 hours of the earthquake.

Together with some members of the Canterbury and Lincoln University Malaysian Postgraduates (CLUMP) Association, he had gone to the house of the Honorary Counsel of Malaysia and met Malaysian Student Department director Dr Rosli Mohammed and other government officials.

"We have proposed to Dr Rosli to give each CLUMP family NZ$100 (RM228) per week during this crisis and he is looking favourably at the idea," he said, adding that CLUMP has 54 members.

He said the money would be used to buy essential items like bread, flour, milk and other food items.

Abdullah said head counting was also done there together with two undergraduates who took a head count for registered students.

"Unfortunately, they said the names of new students who arrived about a week ago, were not in the system.

Abdullah said students living in hostels were the ones most affected as they now had to live in their communal halls, which have been converted into relief centres.

"Everybody is afraid, especially those who were not here during the first earthquake," he said, referring to the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in September.

[nazrey]

Sime eyes $2.5 bln oil palm expansion deal in Cameroon -- FT
2011/02/28
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/S...n--FT/Article/

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby is considering a $2.5 billion plantation expansion deal in Cameroon, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, signalling the global grab for land is well underway as food prices soar.

The Financial Times quoted Sime Darby Chief Executive Mohd Bakke Salleh as saying the project in the West African state will involve 300,000 hectares (741,300 acres) of oil palm estates although discussions have so far led to “nothing conclusive.”

“We are actively looking. We have been shown potential areas in Cameroon, and the development formula is to work with the local communities,” he was quoted as saying.

Sime Darby officials could not be immediately reached for comment on the report.

Bakke told Reuters last week that Sime Darby was on the lookout for more land, with a focus on Indonesia, the world’s No.1 producer.

But plans for a ban on forest clearing and legal hurdles over land acquisitions in Indonesia have prompted planters to also turn to Africa.

Sime, the world’s largest listed planter in terms of land bank, has a 220,000 hectare concession from Liberia and says it needs to expand as Asian rivals such as Singapore’s Wilmar and Olam also scour for land in Africa.

Golden Agri-Resources said last year it was looking at investing in a firm that will control 500,000 hectares of land in Liberia.

Palm oil prices have hit a near three-year high in early February on strong demand chasing supplies wrecked by floods in Malaysia, the second largest palm oil producer after Indonesia. -- REUTERS

[nazrey]

Solutia to build on success of Kuantan plant
By Kamarul Yunus Published: 2011/02/28
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...ystex/Article/

SOLUTIA Inc, a US-based high-performance materials and specialty chemicals company, plans to reinvest to double the capacity of its plant in Kuantan, Pahang, making the site the largest insoluble sulphur manufacturing facility in the world.

Solutia's director of corporate communications, Melissa Hammonds Zona, said the expansion plan will allow the company to build on the proven success of its Kuantan facility and further strengthen the company's reliability of supply in the broader Asia Pacific region.

"The Kuantan site is important because of growth potential for insoluble sulphur in the Asia Pacific region," she said in response to Business Times' query via email.

In January, Solutia had announced that it will expand the current Crystex insoluble sulphur operations in Kuantan as part of the company's strategic plan to remain the leading global supplier of insoluble sulphur.

"This expansion will double the current capacity, making Solutia's Kuantan site the largest insoluble sulphur manufacturing facility in the world," Zona said.

However, she declined to disclose the current production capacity at the Kuantan site, as well as the amount of investment ready to be poured into the expansion plan.

Zona said that Kuantan was chosen for Solutia's expansion plan following a rigorous selection process, which recognised the site's efficient operations, high quality workforce and its ability to serve the rapidly growing markets of both China and India.

"Besides, the excellent support from the Malaysian federal and state governments ever since our presence here has been one of the key factors for the decision. Solutia is also impressed with the government's high awareness of the importance to protect Solutia's intellectual property," she said.

"We are confident the Kuantan site will continue to operate at the high level it has established in the past years," she said.

Zona said the Kuantan facility manufactures Crystex insoluble sulphur, the vulcanising agent of choice for critical applications in the tyre industry, providing the highest level of quality, consistency and performance.

With its headquarters in St Louis, Missouri, Solutia operates globally with about 3,300 employees in more than 50 worldwide locations. Of these locations, Solutia produces Crystex insoluble sulphur at seven sites around the world, including facilities in Kuantan and Kashima in Japan.

Zona said Crystex insoluble sulphur is the most reliable, cost effective and consistent insoluble sulphur produced.

Insoluble sulphur is a necessary component in the production of a radial tyre.

[nazrey]

Ukraine keen to enhance trade and investment linkages with M’sia
Posted on March 2, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=97939

KUALA LUMPUR: Ukraine, the former Soviet Union state in Eastern Europe, is keen to share its expertise in nuclear power plant technology with Malaysia as part of efforts to enhance bilateral trade and investment linkages.

Its Ambassador to Malaysia, Ihor V Humennyi, said Ukraine had immense expertise in nuclear power technology, which it could share, given that Kuala Lumpur was keen to develop nuclear power plants.

The move will also enhance efforts by Ukraine to improve two-way trade and investment linkages which are now at almost negligible levels, Humennyi told Bernama after a meeting with the national news agency’s editor-in-chief, Datuk Yong Soo Heong on Monday.

Humennyi was appointed his country’s envoy to Malaysia last August.

A large number of Malaysian students are also pursuing a medical course at the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU).

The second largest country in Europe afer Russia, with its capital in Kiev, Ukraine is a republic whose economy mainly comprises energy, tourism, companies related to industries as well as the manufacture of transportation vehicles and spacecraft.

Ukraine is heavily dependent on nuclear energy with 15 reactors generating about half of its electricity at four nuclear power plants, operated by Energoatom, the country’s nuclear power utility. The ambassador said that although the Ukraine government was currently in business ventures with several companies in Malaysia, including Petronas, commercial linkages had still a long way to go before they became significant.

Ukraine’s main import from Malaysia is palm oil.

He said that Malaysian companies could use Ukraine as a gateway to the regional markets bordering the country including Russia, Poland, Belarus, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova.

The Ukrainian envoy also said that his country was currently trying to find sources of green energy as an alternative to nuclear power technology.

Based on news reports, in January this year, an Ukrainian company, Sumy Frunze NPO JSC company, had given Petronas a contract for the supply of a complex gas treatment plant (CGTP) for one of the fields in Uzbekistan.

Sumy Frunze is a machine-building company in Europe manufacturing equipment for oil, gas and chemical industries.— Bernama

[nazrey]

Matrade to lead delegation to trade fair in Amsterdam
Posted on March 2, 2011, Wednesday
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=97937

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) will lead a delegation to the ‘World of Private Label’ 2011 trade fair to be held at the Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre in the Netherlands from May 24 to 25.

The ‘World of Private Label’ is Europe’s renowned retail trade fair where buyers and category managers purchase private label branded goods for supermarkets and department stores from Europe and other countries and contract with manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world, both in the food and non-food categories.

At the ‘World of Private Label’ 2010, Malaysian companies conducted negotiations for goods valued at RM1.3 million, said Matrade in a statement yesterday.

“The ‘World of Private Label’ is a very special event, open only to established buyers who are interested in sourcing and contracting for products,” said Matrade chief executive officer Datuk Noharuddin Nordin.

He said Malaysian manufacturers and exporters wishing to expand their markets, without having to invest in costly marketing campaigns in the promotion of their brands, should consider registering with Matrade to participate at ‘World of Private Label’ 2011.

During the two-day event, Malaysian companies can interact with leading international buyers of considerable purchasing power.

He also said Matrade would organise a Malaysian pavilion for local suppliers looking at the ever-growing private label market in Europe and beyond.

Retail statistics show that private label products command a growing share of total retail sales.

Within Europe, Switzerland remains the overall leader where private label products have a 53 per cent market share, followed by the United Kingdom (47 per cent), Germany (41 per cent), France (35 per cent) and Netherlands (26 per cent).

Market share in Spain rose to over 40 per cent for the first time. — Bernama

[nazrey]

Sime says no deal signed on Cameroon
Published: 2010/03/02
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Malaysia’s palm-to-property conglomerate Sime Darby said on today that it has not entered into any agreement to invest in Cameroon oil palm plantations.

The company was responding to a media report which said it was considering a US$2.5 billion plantation expansion deal in the African nation.

Sime, the world’s largest palm company by landbank size, said that it continues to explore investment opportunities and would make the necessary public announcements when an agreement has been reached.

The company recently reported its earnings for its second quarter, which saw its net profit more than double on-year owing to strong palm contributions. - Reuters