PM NAJIB TO ANNOUNCE INITIATIVES AT CLOSE OF LID TO STRENGTHEN M'SIA-AFRICA TIES

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama) - The Langkawi International Dialogue 2011
enters its final day Tuesday with host Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak
set to announce new initiatives to strengthen relations between Malaysia and
African countries.

He would also announce the "outcome document" that would incorporate
suggestions and recommendations made during the smart partnership dialogue
which need follow-up action and these will be discussed at the next dialogue.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, is expected to announce the host
for the next smart partnership dialogue -- the Southern African International
Dialogue, possibly to be held in 2012.

This year's LID2011 from June 19-21 was attended by African leaders such as
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Pakalitha Bethuel Mosisili of
Lesotho, Swaziland Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso, Ugandan Vice-President
Edward Sekandi and Kenyan Vice-President Stephen Kalonzo.

On Monday, Najib led leaders to a retreat at Cyberjaya while participants
went on field trips to see for themselves Malaysia's economic transformation in
areas such as manufacturing, agriculture, sustainable development and promoting
information and communications technology (ICT) enterprises.

They were also furnished with information on how Malaysia nurtures small
and medium enterprises (SME) start-ups in biotechnology.

Participants from 15 countries attended the three-day dialogue held for the
first time in Putrajaya. It was preceded by a highly-successful business forum
and exhibition on June 18.

The next LID will return to the legendary island of Langkawi in 2013.