ITALY'S OTO MELARA TO SET UP WORKSHOP FACILITY IN LUMUT

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- Oto Melara, a company within the Italian conglomerate, Finmeccanica, and one of the world's leading naval, air and land weapons systems manufacturer, through its authorised agent in Malaysia, Genting Etika Sdn Bhd will set up a workshop facility in Lumut, in northern state of Perak.

Genting Etika managing director Capt Azhar Abdul Rahman RMN (ret) said the workshop facility with initial investment of more than RM5 million will become a service centre for Oto Melara guns.(US$1=RM3.01)

He said the establishment of the workshop is also to meet the future requirement of the Malaysian armed forces.

"Eventhough the core purpose of the infrastructure is for servicing Oto Melara guns, the facility will also allow for the assembling work of Oto Melara guns when the need arises," he said at the collaboration agreement signing ceremony here Thursday.

Azhar said the construction work of the workshop is in progress and it is expected to be completed by end of this year.

The workshop is expected to be fully operational by first quarter 2012, he added.

Genting Etika was established in 2001 with the objectives of providing technical services, maintenance and the supply of defence related equipment to the Defence Ministry through government tenders.