GOOD PROSPECTS FOR CANADIAN FIRMS TO INVEST IN ISKANDAR MALAYSIA, SAYS ENVOY

By Frank Julian Martin
JOHOR BAHARU (Johor, Malaysia), April 29 (Bernama) -- Canadian High
Commissioner to Malaysia Randolph Mank sees positive prospects for Canadian
firms to invest in the southern development corridor, Iskandar Malaysia.

Impressed with the breathtaking growth of the area, Mank said Iskandar
Malaysia should be marketed in Canada to attract investors from the country.

"Currently, we cannot predict specifically what investors would be
interested in Iskandar Malaysia, but we will ensure that they are informed of
this emerging southern economic corridor,” he told a luncheon talk with
journalists here Friday.

Mank arrived here Thursday yesterday for a two-day working visit on the
recommendation by the Malaysian High Commissioner to Canada Datuk Hayati Ismail.

Mank, who was posted to Malaysia in August last year, praised Port of
Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) for its capacity to handle high volume containers, even
higher than that handled by the Port Metro Vancouver, the biggest port in
Canada.

PTP’s container volume last year was 6.5 million TEUs as compared to Port
Metro Vancouver’s 2.5 million TEUs.

Mank said Johor’s proximity to Singapore, good road network and related
infrastructures were ideal for potential business operations.

He said Canadian firms in Malaysia have little to complain about the
country's foreign investment policies.

"Usually they only raise issues about late visa approvals or lack of
specific skilled workers,” he added.

Mank and his officials visited Iskandar Malaysia, Canadian electronic and
automated manufacturing services factories -- Celestica Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd
and Celestica in Tampoi and Senai.

They also called on Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman.
-- BERNAMA