M'SIAN BUSINESSMEN SHOULD GRAB OPPORTUNITIES IN QATAR, SAYS PM NAJIB

DOHA, May 16 (Bernama) -- Najib Tun Razak has called on Malaysian
investors and companies to grab opportunities to participate in development
projects worth US$140 billion being implemented by the Qatar government in its
preparation to host the World Cup Football Championship in 2022.

The Malaysian Prime Minister said one of the gigantic projects that
Malaysian companies could participate in was the "The Heart of Doha" involving
the construction of more than 100 buildings, stadiums and sports complexes.

"As the Malaysian companies have the expertise particularly in the field of
construction, they have a good chance of participating in this project," he told
Malaysian journalists before concluding his visit to Qatar Sunday.

Najib said that during his meeting with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Hamad
Jassim Jabr Al-Thani, as well as Qatari businessmen, he had expressed Malaysia's
willingness and the capacity of the Malaysian companies in implementing various
infrastructure projects.

"In principle, they welcome the involvement of Malaysian companies on
condition that the offer made is competitive," he said.



Najib said the involvement of Malaysian companies in development projects in
Qatar currently was about US$7 billion, mostly in the construction of government
buildings, roads and erection of the Doha International Airport.

However, he said entrepreneurs in other sectors should also grab the vast
opportunities available in Qatar especially in the ICT sector and the supply of
'halal' food.

Najib said both sides had also discussed the possibility of Malaysian and
Qatari companies forging cooperation to secure projects in third countries where
the expertise of both sides could be utilised for mutual benefits.

"I had specifically discussed developments in the petroleum sector,
especially oil and gas, with the involvement of Petronas as a local company that
had succeeded in transforming itself as a player in the global oil and gas
industry.

"This gives an opportunity for Petronas to discuss with Qatar Petroleum
Company to obtain LNG resources from Qatar and also for Petronas and the company
to cooperate in third countries in the downstream oil and gas industries," he
said.


Najib said the meeting also discussed opportunities for Qatari companies to
invest in Malaysia.

He said that among Qatari investments in Malaysia was the construction of
the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur where a Qatari
company owned 49 per cent equity of the building.

He said a Qatari company was also involved in the Sungai Besi development
project worth US$5 billion which would be implemented when the project site was
vacated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force.