PROMINENT ARTISTS TO BE PART OF MITI`S TRADE AND INVESTMENT MISSIONS NEXT YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- Prominent Malaysian artists will be part
of the International Trade and Industry Ministry's trade and invesment missions
next year in the move to put the country on the map as a centre for creative
arts and to promote tourism.

Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Tuesday their potential contribution to
the Malaysian economy was often under-estimated.

"Their contribution is not just confined to the world of arts. They can
also
contribute in putting Malaysia on the map as a centre for the creative arts and
contribute towards promoting tourism and its related services," he said at the
soft launch of the 2nd International Art Expo Malaysia 2008 at the National Art
Gallery here.

Muhyiddin hoped that the arts community would respond positively to his
proposal.

Touching on the upcoming art expo to be held at Matrade Exhibition and
Convention Centre from Nov 26 to 30, he said such exhibitions not only helped to
promote Malaysia's art scene but also brought into focus international attention
on Malaysia in general, and Kuala Lumpur in particular.

"International art exhibitions of this nature further have the potential of
promoting the creative arts among Malaysians. And this is not only for its
aesthetic value but also for its economic worth," he said.

He said artists from the region were setting record prices for their pieces
and he was made to understand that "some of our Malaysian Grand Masters are also
attracting prices in the six-digit range. This clearly was not the case 30 years
ago."

He said the current global financial turmoil could have an impact on this
trend but he was confident that art, as an expression of the human soul, would
outlast any downtrend in the market cycle.

-- BERNAMA