US SUPPORTIVE OF M'SIA JOINING TPP AGREEMENT TALKS, SAYS ENVOY

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- The United States is very supportive of
Malaysia joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) talks, especially
with Washington gearing towards enhancing trade ties with Kuala Lumpur.

US Ambassador to Malaysia Paul W. Jones said: "When we talk about trade, the US
is very supportive of Malaysia joining TPP negotiations.

"It just happened about 10 days ago and the negotiations are going to be a very
comprehensive process over the next year.

"We hope the countries involved can conclude a free trade agreement to bring
down consumer prices and create jobs," he said in an exclusive interview with
Bernama Tuesday.

The International Trade and Industry Ministry had said Malaysia would be joining
the TPP agreement talks with eight countries including the United States.

The other seven participating nations -- Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand,
Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam -- had unanimously agreed to include Malaysia as a
full negotiating member.

Asked whether Malaysia was an attractive investment destination to US investors,
Jones, who has been here only for five weeks, said: "Sure it is, I've already
taken one trip up to Penang."

"It was before I presented my credentials, so I limited myself to meeting with
American companies. I visited five different American companies and had lunch
with five others," said Jones, 50, formerly the deputy chief of mission at the
US Embassy in Manila.

He presented his credentials to the Malaysian King, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin,
at Istana Negara (National Palace on Monday.

On American companies intending to invest in Malaysia, Jones said a company
called National Instrument was coming with a major investment.

"Some of the American companies came here in 1972 and some are coming right
now," he said.

Jones said support from the government in creating a conducive investment
climate and opportunities in the human resource and infrastructure sectors
attracted American companies to invest in Malaysia.

The envoy said a number of American companies had recently announced significant
new investments in Malaysia.

Citing soft drink giant, Coca-Cola, he said, the company would invest US$300
million for its new bottling plant in Nilai, south of Kuala Lumpur, while
Western Digital was investing a whopping US$1.2 billion over the next five
years.

"There are two very exciting solar power companies, namely Sun Power and First
Solar, which are leading companies in the United States for residential solar
power and one of the fastest-growing companies in America. Both announced new
investments.

"So I think among American companies, there is great excitement about Malaysia
and significant investments are coming in," he said.

Asked on the New Economic Model and the Government Transformation Programme,
Jones said: "Malaysia has set very impressive goals for itself.

"I think you'll see a lot of international business looking very closely at how
the new economic model translates into action. People are very excited about the
economic prospects here."
-- BERNAMA