AFRICA CAN BENEFIT FROM INCLUSIVENESS OF 1MALAYSIA CONCEPT

By Santhia Panjanadan

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- African nations can benefit from the inclusiveness of the 1Malaysia concept particularly in drawing up economic policies that have a positive impact on a wide cross-section of the people.

As such, the London-based Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM) Ltd has called on African countries to partake in the Global 2011 Langkawi International Dialogue next month to elevate smart partnership initiatives to a higher level.

CPTM Chief Executive Dr Mihaela Y. Smith, who is a strong advocate
of the smart partneship movement, said Vision 2020, under the aegis of the 1Malaysia concept and Government Transformation Programme (GTP), would be shared with participants through parallel field sessions.

Malaysia's recent endeavours in transforming and realising the 1Malaysia concept, GTP, Economic Transformation Programme and New Economic Model has caught the attention of many developing countries.

With Malaysia showcasing these initiatives to emerge as a developed nation, there was much Africa could learn on a mutually beneficial basis, she said in a letter to LID participants on behalf of the Chair of the Smart Partnership Movement, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda, recently.

The LID will be held for the first time outside Langkawi as African
countries wanted to see the development of Putrajaya for themselves, which did not even exist when Malaysia hosted the first LID in 1995.

Global 2011 LID is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia, in collaboration with CPTM.

Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to open Global 2011 LID on June 19 which will be preceded by a Business Forum and Exhibition a day earlier.

Mihaela said African nations could emulate these programmes as they were relevant, inclusive and tied in neatly with the prosper-thy-neighbour maxim, which has been a hallmark of LID partnerships.

Undeniably, LIDs since 1995, have helped to enhance trade and investment linkages between Malaysia and African nations.

"The dialogue networking process allows for fostering like-mindedness and a supportive environment, sharing of first-hand information through face-to-face interaction, removing indifference and limiting ignorance and, fostering the spirit of the Smart Partnership Movement," she said.