MALAYSIA EYES SOURCING RUBBER MACHINERY FROM CHINA'S GOODTIME

By Samantha Tan Chiew Ting

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is exploring the possibility of
sourcing rubber machinery from China's Goodtime Science and Technology Co Ltd, a
manufacturer and trader of all kinds of standard and custom-moulded rubber
products.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Bernard Dompok, said
Malaysia was keen to explore business collaborations in rubber products between
the two countries to enhance the industry.

"We are value-adding our products and will encourage the players to tap
opportunities, particularly in downstream activities, to generate high
value-added products," he told Bernama in an interview recently in Ningbo,
China.

The minister was on a six-day working visit to Beijing and Shanghai from
June 1-6 to promote palm oil, rubber and timber as well as to boost bilateral
trade and investment ties.

Dompok said his visit to Goodtime was to encourage the company to establish
cooperation with Malaysian rubber product manufacturers for possible joint
ventures or outsourcing.

The visit was initiated by the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council to
support and encourage Malaysian rubber industry players to tap opportunities in
China.

Goodtime has a modern technical laboratory and inspection centre for
research and development and production testing with over 40 sets of test
equipment and instruments.

Meanwhile, Goodtime's chief executive officer, Zhou Bo, said the company was
keen to set up model manufacturing site in Malaysia to assist and support
Malaysia develop its market.

He said Goodtime would also like to help Malaysia make car parts and was
keen to be the agent for natural rubber agent in China.

Goodtime, located in Yinzhou district of Ningbo, northeastern of Zhejiang
province, is the third largest rubber products manufacturer in China.

It manufactures and distributes environmentally-friendly and
energy-efficient rubber, plastics and metal items and molds for major carmakers
including GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda.

Goodtime recorded US$35 million annual sales last year. It has 500
employees.
-- BERNAMA