ID :
30909
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 18:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/30909
The shortlink copeid
AIRASIA MAY FLY TO UZBEKISTAN, SAYS M'SIAN PM ABDULLAH
TASHKENT (Uzbekistan), Nov 18 (Bernama) -- Low-cost carrier, AirAsia may fly to Uzbekistan in a move to establish air links between the two countries.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had informed the
AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes on the matter and the
latter had agreed to study it as soon as possible.
"Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov wanted us to establish air linkages and
I think AirAsia could play that role as it is a low-cost carrier," Abdullah who
is on a third-day of the four days official visit to this country told Malaysian
journalist, here.
At the moment, Uzbekistan Airways flies twice a week to Malaysia and
vice-versa while Malaysian Airlines cooperated with the airline through
code-sharing basis.
On the lack of implementation of Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) signed
in the past, Abdullah believed the business climate in this country would
improve as the country further liberalise its economy.
The MOUs include cooperations in the fields of air services, security and
counter-terrorism, trade, tourism, mineral resources, information and
communication technology.
Uzbekistan, the landlocked country located in Central Asia, gained
independence in 1991 after breaking up from the Soviet Union.
Admitting it was quite difficult to deal import-export with landlocked
country, Abdullah said both countries managed to increase their bilateral trade
to US$40 million last year compared to US$12 million in 2006.
Malaysia's main export are vegetable oil, palm oil, electrical and
electronic equipment, furniture, rubber products, printed material and leather
produts while Uzbekistan's main export include cotton and air services.
Abdullah said although the trade figure increase significantly, the figure
was still considered as small due to vast potentials of business opportunities
both countries could offer.
For example, he said, Uzbekistan President was willing to offer more oil
and gas concessions to Malaysian national oil company, Petronas, as it
had shown tremendous capability in carry out its activities in the
country.
Petronas has invested US$90 million thus far for exploration and oil and
gas projects in four regions - Baisun, Aral Sea, Surkhanski and Urga.
Petronas investment in Uzbekisan in the next three years is estimated to be
around US$150 million to US$200 million.
Abdullah said Petronas has also carried out its social responsibility
project in this country by offering several scholarships to Uzbeks to study in
oil and gas industry at the Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Malaysia.
Tourism he said was another potential areas for joint cooperation between
the two countries as Uzbekistan could offer Islamic tourism package especially
to visit Samarkand, city where Islamic civilisation began.
-- BERNAMA
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had informed the
AirAsia group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes on the matter and the
latter had agreed to study it as soon as possible.
"Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov wanted us to establish air linkages and
I think AirAsia could play that role as it is a low-cost carrier," Abdullah who
is on a third-day of the four days official visit to this country told Malaysian
journalist, here.
At the moment, Uzbekistan Airways flies twice a week to Malaysia and
vice-versa while Malaysian Airlines cooperated with the airline through
code-sharing basis.
On the lack of implementation of Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) signed
in the past, Abdullah believed the business climate in this country would
improve as the country further liberalise its economy.
The MOUs include cooperations in the fields of air services, security and
counter-terrorism, trade, tourism, mineral resources, information and
communication technology.
Uzbekistan, the landlocked country located in Central Asia, gained
independence in 1991 after breaking up from the Soviet Union.
Admitting it was quite difficult to deal import-export with landlocked
country, Abdullah said both countries managed to increase their bilateral trade
to US$40 million last year compared to US$12 million in 2006.
Malaysia's main export are vegetable oil, palm oil, electrical and
electronic equipment, furniture, rubber products, printed material and leather
produts while Uzbekistan's main export include cotton and air services.
Abdullah said although the trade figure increase significantly, the figure
was still considered as small due to vast potentials of business opportunities
both countries could offer.
For example, he said, Uzbekistan President was willing to offer more oil
and gas concessions to Malaysian national oil company, Petronas, as it
had shown tremendous capability in carry out its activities in the
country.
Petronas has invested US$90 million thus far for exploration and oil and
gas projects in four regions - Baisun, Aral Sea, Surkhanski and Urga.
Petronas investment in Uzbekisan in the next three years is estimated to be
around US$150 million to US$200 million.
Abdullah said Petronas has also carried out its social responsibility
project in this country by offering several scholarships to Uzbeks to study in
oil and gas industry at the Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Malaysia.
Tourism he said was another potential areas for joint cooperation between
the two countries as Uzbekistan could offer Islamic tourism package especially
to visit Samarkand, city where Islamic civilisation began.
-- BERNAMA
