ID :
121951
Thu, 05/13/2010 - 21:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/121951
The shortlink copeid
SAUDIS KEEN TO WORK WITH MALAYSIA ON FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMME
From Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah
RIYADH, May 13 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia is keen to collaborate with
Malaysia to develop its food security programme, says adviser of Corridor
Development Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The former prime minister said Saudi Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr
Abdullah Al-Obaid, expressed this during their meeting here.
"Currently, they are talking to the Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey and
Ukraine. They welcome the possibility to work with Malaysia," he told Bernama
here Thursday.
Abdullah is leading the ECER Development Council's (ECERDC) investment
mission to West Asia, including Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, Riyadh and
Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from May 7-17.
The mission, a follow-up of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s
earlier visit to Saudi Arabia in January, aims to attract investors as well as
enhance bilateral business relationships with the West Asian nations.
Also present at the interview were ECERDC chief executive officer,
Jebasingam Issace John, and Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of
Malaysia and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the OIC Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Associate Prof Syed Omar Al Saggaf.
The former PM said in his separate meetings with Dr Abdullah and Saudi
Deputy Minister of Finance, Saad H.Al-Hamdan, they discussed potential
agriculture projects to be promoted under Saudi Arabia's Private Investment
Fund, which has an allocation of three billion riyal (100 riyal = RM82.84).
"There is a strong interest in the agricultural sector to address concerns
of food security. This is seen as an immediate requirement that can be fulfilled
through the promotion of agriculture projects in the East Coast Economic Region
(ECER)," he said.
Following this, Abdullah said, there would be quick follow-up discussions to
pinpoint the potential activities in the ECER.
"One immediate area identified is livestock production and development," he
said.
He said a company was keen to develop downstream polymer activities to
complement existing facilities in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Brazil.
The company, he said, planned to set up a cracker plant for the polymer
activities and thus, "we will identify specific interest and match with
facilities promoted in the proximity of the Kertih Polymer Park, nestled within
the Kertih-Cukai-Gebeng petrochemical hub".
During the meeting with Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Abdullah
said, the Saudis said they were keen to identify Malaysian companies that could
provide the know-how in the petrochemical sector.
Abdullah said the Saudi investors were keen to develop a two-way
relationship.
"This will include identifying Malaysian companies that can be partners to
develop the know-how in Saudi Arabia," he said.
He said another company was keen on mid-stream petrochemical activities,
i.e. ethanol/fertilisers, methanol, methane, ammonia, polyethelene and
polycarbonate.
Abdullah said the Council of Saudi Chambers has recommended that ECER be
promoted by the Saudi Malaysia Friendship Society.
He said the council offered to introduce the potential investment
opportunities to its 200,000 members.
"This also includes promotion of the ECER through its magazine and
assistance in identification of contacts for the top 100 members that would be
potential investors," he said.
Abdullah said there was close collaboration and mutual respect
between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
"This can be seen through the strong interest by individuals and the
government to explore opportunities in Malaysia in the ECER," he said.
On tourism, Abdullah said, the council said there was a lack of exposure on
Malaysia in general and recommended that more promotions and information be sent
to Saudi companies on investment opportunities in Malaysia.
"They said the current perception of Malaysia is only as a tourist
destination," he said.
He said there was a strong potential to promote real estate development and
tourist locations that could be developed by Saudi investors in the ECER.
Abdullah said the Saudis were interested in halal products, particulary food
and non-food items.
-- BERNAMA
RIYADH, May 13 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia is keen to collaborate with
Malaysia to develop its food security programme, says adviser of Corridor
Development Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The former prime minister said Saudi Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr
Abdullah Al-Obaid, expressed this during their meeting here.
"Currently, they are talking to the Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey and
Ukraine. They welcome the possibility to work with Malaysia," he told Bernama
here Thursday.
Abdullah is leading the ECER Development Council's (ECERDC) investment
mission to West Asia, including Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, Riyadh and
Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from May 7-17.
The mission, a follow-up of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s
earlier visit to Saudi Arabia in January, aims to attract investors as well as
enhance bilateral business relationships with the West Asian nations.
Also present at the interview were ECERDC chief executive officer,
Jebasingam Issace John, and Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of
Malaysia and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the OIC Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Associate Prof Syed Omar Al Saggaf.
The former PM said in his separate meetings with Dr Abdullah and Saudi
Deputy Minister of Finance, Saad H.Al-Hamdan, they discussed potential
agriculture projects to be promoted under Saudi Arabia's Private Investment
Fund, which has an allocation of three billion riyal (100 riyal = RM82.84).
"There is a strong interest in the agricultural sector to address concerns
of food security. This is seen as an immediate requirement that can be fulfilled
through the promotion of agriculture projects in the East Coast Economic Region
(ECER)," he said.
Following this, Abdullah said, there would be quick follow-up discussions to
pinpoint the potential activities in the ECER.
"One immediate area identified is livestock production and development," he
said.
He said a company was keen to develop downstream polymer activities to
complement existing facilities in Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Brazil.
The company, he said, planned to set up a cracker plant for the polymer
activities and thus, "we will identify specific interest and match with
facilities promoted in the proximity of the Kertih Polymer Park, nestled within
the Kertih-Cukai-Gebeng petrochemical hub".
During the meeting with Riyadh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Abdullah
said, the Saudis said they were keen to identify Malaysian companies that could
provide the know-how in the petrochemical sector.
Abdullah said the Saudi investors were keen to develop a two-way
relationship.
"This will include identifying Malaysian companies that can be partners to
develop the know-how in Saudi Arabia," he said.
He said another company was keen on mid-stream petrochemical activities,
i.e. ethanol/fertilisers, methanol, methane, ammonia, polyethelene and
polycarbonate.
Abdullah said the Council of Saudi Chambers has recommended that ECER be
promoted by the Saudi Malaysia Friendship Society.
He said the council offered to introduce the potential investment
opportunities to its 200,000 members.
"This also includes promotion of the ECER through its magazine and
assistance in identification of contacts for the top 100 members that would be
potential investors," he said.
Abdullah said there was close collaboration and mutual respect
between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.
"This can be seen through the strong interest by individuals and the
government to explore opportunities in Malaysia in the ECER," he said.
On tourism, Abdullah said, the council said there was a lack of exposure on
Malaysia in general and recommended that more promotions and information be sent
to Saudi companies on investment opportunities in Malaysia.
"They said the current perception of Malaysia is only as a tourist
destination," he said.
He said there was a strong potential to promote real estate development and
tourist locations that could be developed by Saudi investors in the ECER.
Abdullah said the Saudis were interested in halal products, particulary food
and non-food items.
-- BERNAMA
