DUTCH INVESTORS TO UNDERTAKE RECIPROCAL VISITS AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK

By Massita Ahmad

AMSTERDAM (HOLLAND), March 9 (Bernama) -– The trade and investment mission
to Holland is confident of attracting investors to Malaysia, with a number of
reciprocal visits, as early as next week.

Minister of International Trade and Industry, Mustapa Mohamed
said the interest of new Dutch investors was very high, as they knew the
strength of Malaysia's economy.

"They will be making a series of vists to Malaysia almost every month," said
Mustapa.

He is leading an almost 50-member Malaysian delegation on a eight-day visit
starting March 6, to Amsterdam, Hamburg (Germany) and Birmingham (United
Kingdom).

"Our visit has been much welcomed as a similar mission was held two years
ago," he said.

According to Mustapa, a visit by Dutch entrepreneurs to Malaysia in the
third quarter of the year has been planned, to expose them to available
opportunities in the country.

The visit is being planned in cooperation with the Malaysian Dutch Business
Council.

Within the European Union (EU), Holland was Malaysia's second largest
trading partner last year, with total trade amounting to US$6.2 billion (RM20.7
billion) or 19.8 per cent.

Until December 2009, Dutch companies undertook 163 projects with investments
of US$4 billion (RM13.4 billion).

The main investment sector was petroleum and petrochemical
products,electrical and electronic products, chemical and chemical products,
food products and natural gas.

Mustapa stressed that what is important following the discussions held is
the follow-up, and hoped the potential investments secured, would be a reality
this year itself.

Earlier, a seminar on "Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Services
Sector in Malaysia", was held with a follow-up business matching session with
the 115 potential Dutch investors in attendance.

Mustapa said arising from the session,a total of RM215 million in potential
investments had been secured, in sectors such as renewable energy, Information
and Communication Technology(ICT) and machinery appliances.

He disclosed that a company which had already invested in "bunkering"
facilities at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in cooperation with MISC Bhd,
was also planning to increase its investment.

At present a number of notable Dutch companies, among them Shell, ING, Dutch
Lady and Philips, are already operating in Malaysia.

Apart from Holland, Germany and the United Kingdom, are also key trading
partners within the EU for Malaysia.

All three markets accounted for 6.9 per cent of Malaysia's global trade and
61.7 per cent of the country's trade with the 27-member EU.

The trade and investment mission involves 17 senior state officers, the
Northern Corridor Implementing Authority, 13 representatives from the private
sector along with officers from the Ministry of International Trade and
Industry, the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) and the Malaysia
External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE).

-- BERNAMA