MALAYSIA POISED TO EXPAND OIL & GAS VENTURES IN KAZAKHSTAN

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is set for new opportunities and
bigger ventures in the oil and gas industry of Kazakhstan and the Central Asia
region following the participation of Malaysian companies at the recent
World Islamic Economic Forum.

In a statement, the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation
(Matrade) said it organised the exhibition for Malaysian companies in Astana,
Kazakhstan, between June 7 and 9.

A total of 141 business meetings were arranged between the seven
participating Malaysian companies and leading oil and gas companies from
Kazakhstan, which included Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company,
Kazmunaigaz, KazTranzGas, Tengiz Chevroil, British Gas International Ltd,
Energotrade and Shell Kazakhstan.

Matrade said sales concluded and under negotiations were for services in
heavy engineering and manufacturing, wellhead control panels, rotating
equipment, measurement and control instrumentation, safety equipment, pipeline
integrity related services and cleaning services for pipelines.

Other oil and gas services required by Kazakhstan companies included
logistics services as well as health, safety, emergency management and
technology.

To enhance Malaysia's oil and gas sector in international markets, Matrade
said it would organise similar programmes this year to Aberdeen (United
Kingdom), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Yangon (Myanmar).

-- BERNAMA