MALAYSIAN INVESTORS INVITED TO TAP BUSINESS POTENTIAL IN KAZAKHSTAN

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Bernama) -- Kazakhstan is inviting Malaysian
investors to tap the huge business potential in that country, especially
in the pharmaceutical, agriculture, construction, Islamic finance and food
security sectors.

"Businessmen should not only seek to tap into the oil and gas sector as
there are other areas of opportunities, including machinery and green
technology.

"For example, we import a lot of machinery items from abroad and this is an
area that can be ventured into," Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Malaysia, Beibut B.
Atamkulov told Bernama in an interview.

Prime Minister Najib Razak is scheduled to make an official visit to
Kazakhstan from June 5-6 to provide further impetus to the development of closer
and beneficial relations between both nations.

Najib will also attend the Seventh World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in
Astana from June 7-9.

Atamkulov said the prime minister's visit will see more agreements
inked between the two countries to set the platform for trade and investment
linkages to move to a significantly higher level.

He said this next stage in bilateral trade relations between both
countries would open up great opportunities for Malaysian businessmen as well as
for the Kazakhstan business community.

A former Soviet Union-governed nation in the heart of Euro-Asia, Kazakhstan
will also concurrently chair the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
during the WIEF.

On another note, the ambassador said after 12 years, Kazakhstan and
Malaysia would convene the second Joint Trade Economic Committee (JTEC)
meeting on June 6 during the WIEF.

"After so many years, this meeting will