M'SIAN PM NAJIB ARRIVES IN NEW YORK FOR WORKING VISIT

From D. Arul Rajoo

NEW YORK, May 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrived here Tuesday to begin a working visit to the world's biggest financial centre where he is expected to address the world's top investors and scientists on the major transformation programmes taking place back home.

Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, touched down at the Newark Liberty International Airport at 1.15am Tuesday after a working visit to Britain.

They were received by Malaysian Ambassador to the United States Dr Jamaludin Jarjis and senior officials.

Najib will have a busy programme during the two-day visit here, starting with the launch of Invest Malaysia 2011 where he is expected to deliver a keynote address at the conference at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Tuesday afternoon.

The highlight of the visit is the inaugural meeting of the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council for Malaysia (GSIAC) at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), which will be chaired by Najib.

The GSIAC is a joint initiative between the Malaysia Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) and NYAS in pursuit of transforming Malaysia into a high-income economy through enhancing Malaysia's capabilities in science and innovation.

Najib is scheduled to meet NYSE Euronext chief operating officer Lawrence Leibowitz, have a luncheon meeting with leaders of the financial industry, and hold a series of individual meetings with corporate leaders of high-profile multinational companies as well as officials from Wall Street and Dow Jones.

He will also attend a roundtable meeting and attend a luncheon with the United States Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, as well as witness the signing of a number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs).