GERMANY'S BADEN-WURTTEMBERG KEEN TO INVEST IN MALAYSIA

By Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The business community of Germany's
Baden-Wurttemberg sees Malaysia as an attractive investment destination and is
keen to invest here particularly in the high technology industry, says its
Minister President, Stefan Mappus.

Mappus is leading a 150-member trade delegation from the German territory to
Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore to promote greater cooperation in the high-tech
industries.

"While preparing for this visit, it became very obvious that the
business community in Baden-Wurttemberg had economic interest in Malaysia," he
said in an interview with Bernama and the Star here Thursday.

He said the delegation to Malaysia was the first big delegation he was
heading since being in office at the request of the industry.

Also present was German Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Guenter Georg Gruber.

Baden-Wurttemberg is the third largest territory among 16 territories in
Germany and is one of the wealthiest regions in Europe with a traditionally low
unemployment rate.

Its main economic activity is in the automotive, medical technology,
aerospace, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

The delegation members's interest are in the areas of renewable energy and
everything connected with high-tech, green technology and health sectors, Mappus
said.

He also said the delegation viewed the Asean countries as the biggest growth
market of the future and therefore making their stake and presence here early
on.

Mappus said some businesses from his region had already made their
investments in Malaysia and that these companies were very satisfied with their
investments.

They find Malaysia politically stable and offered future prospects for them,
he said.

Mappus also paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Najib Razak at his office
in Putrajaya Thursday.

Describing his meeting as very interesting, Mappus said among issues
discussed included bilateral relations including enhancing economic and trade
ties in high-technology industries.

"We talked about green technology, and high technology in general. I
invited the prime minister to visit Baden-Wurttemberg."

Mappus said Najib also informed him about the future development
of Asean countries and its huge market of more than half a billion people.

"He is a very likeable prime minister," he said.

Concurrent with his visit, the Baden-Wurttemberg Forum on Production
Technology of the Future was also held here yesterday.

Mappus said feedback from the forum was highly satisfactory and added that
coming on this trade mission to South East Asia was a right and timely decision.

The business delegation from Baden Wurttemberg left here for Vietnam this
morning.
-- BERNAMA