M'SIAN DEPUTY MINISTER CONFIDENT OF 6 PCT ECONOMIC GROWTH

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- International Trade and Industry Deputy
Minister Mukhriz Mahathir believes Malaysia is on track to achieve a six per
cent gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year.

He said the target was easily achievable even if the economy records an
average 2.5 per cent growth in the second half of this year after the economy
grew by an average 9.5 per cent in the first half despite the global economic
crisis.

"We've the potential to achieve the goal and 2.5 per cent growth is not a
big problem," he told reporters after opening the one-stop centre of the
Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (GABEM), here Thursday.

Malaysia registered a strong 8.9 per cent second quarter growth compared
to 10.1 per cent in the first quarter, driven by sustained expansion in domestic
demand and robust growth in external demand.

"We're not surprised because we know our local automotive companies have
the capability and capacity," he said when asked on the collaboration between
DRB-HICOM Bhd and Volkswagen to manufacture Volkswagen vehicles in Malaysia.

He said the local automotive industry could attract more investments in the
future as investors have a clear road map after the revised National Automotive
Policy (NAP) announced last year.

Eighteen new policies and measures were introduced under the revised NAP
covering licensing, duties, incentives, technology and environment, safety and
standards and approved permits (APs), the deputy minister said.

On the one-stop centre, Mukhriz said the centre will group the ministries
and government agencies to help Bumiputera entrepreneurs following scrapping of
the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry.

Ministries and government agencies in the one-stop centre are International
Trade and Industry Ministry, Finance Ministry, Economic Planning Unit in the
Prime Minister's Department, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd, Bank Negara
Malaysia, SME Bank, Bank Rakyat, Mara, Construction Industry Development Board,
Credit Guarantee Corporation and Tekun Nasional.

Mukhriz said the International Trade and Industry Ministry has also set up a
Business Advisory Centre for all entrepreneurs to support their business.
-- BERNAMA