FINLAND SEES JV OPPORTUNITIES WITH M'SIA

By Massita Ahmad

PUTRAJAYA, April 29 (Bernama) -– Finnish President Matti Vanhanen who was briefed by the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) on Malaysia's New Economic Model Thursday, saw joint venture opportunities between the two countries.

Among possible fields for cooperation were biofuel, forestry management dan
tourism, NEAC Chairman Amirsham A Aziz told Bernama after the one-hour
meeting here.

He said Vanhanen who is on a two-day visit to Malaysia, also believed that
Malaysia was on the right track to become a high-income developed country in 10
years.

When asked about Vanhanen's views on the New Economic Model, Amirsham said:
"He likes it. Some segments attracted his interest, like knowledge-based economy
which we are trying to develop.

"He was also interested in other fields which Malaysia has expertise."

NEAC has been mandated to formulate an economic model to transform Malaysia
from a middle income economy to a high income economy by 2020.

Vanhanen was also said to have shared Finland's experience on using the
education system to drive the country toward developed status and in going
through several economic phases in Europe.

He also agreed that one of the ways for Malaysia was through the
commercialisation of research and development to move toward a high income
economy.

Vanhanen arrived in Malaysia Wednesday and had met Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak.

-- BERNAMA