WESTERN AUSTRALIA EYES BOOST IN TRADE TIES WITH MALAYSIA

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), May 4 (Bernama) -- Western Australia (WA) says the
level of cooperation with Malaysia is excellent and hopes that trade relations
will continue to grow.

Director of South West Group cum South West Corridor Development Foundation
Inc, Chris Fitzhardinge, said bilateral trade amounted to A$2 billion
(A$1=RM2.92) over the last 12 months.

He said Malaysia's exports to WA were valued at A$1.38 billion while
Malaysia's imports from WA were worth A$690 million during the period.

The Malaysian exports were petroleum, electronic equipment and manufactured
goods while Malaysian imports from WA were mostly livestock and engineering
services, he said.

"This shows a positive relationship and strong trade ties between Malaysia
and Western Australia. This augurs well for trade relations," he told reporters
after a presentation on South Metropolitan Region's Capabilities and Investment
Opportunities in WA to potential investers here today.

Fitzhardinge said Malaysia was among the world's top 10 trade partners and
the third largest tourist market for WA.

"We see a lot of potential investors coming from Malaysia to invest in
WA, including from Sabah.

"That's why we set up a Sabah Western Australia Trade Centre (SWATC) in
Sabah two years ago to boost trade relations between Kota Kinabalu City and WA,"
he said.

He said SWATC's strategic objective was to stimulate bilateral trade between
the regions, paving the way for strong economic linkages.

"It seeks to engage small businesses in trade opportunities by partnering
with other small businesses or with large companies," he said.

Meanwhile, regional director of the Western Australia Trade Office in Kuala
Lumpur, Verghese Jacob, said most of the WA investors were interested in
investing in livestock in Sabah and Sarawak.

He said the two states had vast tracts of land suitable for livestock
activities and were freed of foot and mouth disease.

Another potential investment area, he said, was in education.

"Last year, there were 4,312 Malaysian students in WA.

"The Polytechnic of Western Australia offers associate degree courses in
hospitality management, business and aviation," he said.

-- BERNAMA



Delete & Prev | Delete & Next