AID ON THE WAY FOR MALAYSIAN RESTAURANTS OVERSEAS - MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- The cabinet has endorsed efforts to aid
Malaysian restaurant owners overseas, especially in the United Kingdom to expand
their business.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said the
meeting also agreed to urge local banks to assist the entrepreneurs.

"This culminated from a proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin
that local banks should extend credit facilities to Malaysian restaurants
abroad, especially in Britain," he told reporters after chairing a post-cabinet
meeting here Wednesday.

Rais said Muhyiddin, who visited Britain recently, found that Malaysian
restaurants there were doing well but they faced financial constraints to expand
their business.

"The names of several banks were mentioned (at the cabinet meeting) and they
will be contacted soon to assist the restaurants," he said.

There are 62 Malaysian restaurants in the United Kingdom, of which 38
are in London.

The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has allocated
two million pounds sterling (GBP) (1.0 GBP = RM5.46) this year to promote
Malaysian food in the United Kingdom through the Malaysia Kitchen campaign.
-- BERNAMA