ID :
36914
Mon, 12/22/2008 - 11:30
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/36914
The shortlink copeid
ABDULLAH'S VISIT SET TO SPUR MALAYSIA-IRAN TRADE, ECONOMIC TIES
From Abdul Muin Abdul Majid
TEHRAN, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Much of Iran has been gripped by cold weather over
the past few weeks with snow capping the mountains that ring its capital,
Tehran, where Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is
scheduled to begin his four-day official visit to this country.
Many observers feel the trip would lead to warmer relations and closer
trade
and economic ties between Malaysia and this Islamic republic of 72 million
people which has been in the limelight of late over its standoff with the West
regarding its nuclear ambitions, with Tehran stressing that the objectives are
peaceful in nature.
Iran has been slapped with sanctions by the United Nations and United
States
over the issue, but the Malaysian ambassador to Iran, Syed Munshe
Afdzaruddin, nonetheless believes that the republic has vast resources and
potential that could be tapped by Malaysians.
According to him, Malaysian investment in Iran totalled roughly US$40
billion to date, especially in the oil and gas sector.
Besides stalwarts like Petronas, Proton and Telekom Malaysia, which have
been present in Iran since the mid-1990s, other Malaysian companies linked to
the oil and gas business are making inroads here, not to mention others seeking
opportunities in housing, highway and railroad projects, among others.
"The Malaysian government is taking measures to facilitate financing that
can further boost trade and investment between both countries," Syed Munshe told
Malaysian journalists in the Iranian city of Esfahan where Abdullah was making a
one-day stopover before starting his second official visit to Iran, his first
back in 2005.
Abdullah is no stranger to Iran, having visited this country on several
previous occasions as Malaysia's deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
His latest visit to this country is to reciprocate Iranian President
Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's official trip to Malaysia in 2007.
Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is expected to welcome the
Malaysian leader, who is accompanied on this trip by his wife Jeanne
Abdullah, Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Works
Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed and Deputy Science,
Technology and Innovation Minister Fadilah Yusof, at Tehran's Mehrabad
International Airport later Sunday.
Also in his entourage are four Members of Parliament (MPs), namely Halimah
Mohamed Sadique, Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikri, Hasbi Habibollahand Mohd Nor Othman,
as well as high-ranking government officials.
Abdullah is scheduled to hold talks with Ahmadinejad, who has been in power
since 2005, and witness the signing of memorandums of understanding, including
the one on science and technology as well as that between Malaysian car
manufacturer Proton and its Iranian partner Zagross Khodro.
The prime minister is also scheduled to call on Iran's supreme leader,
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and visit places of interest in Tehran, a
bustling city of some 12 million people.
"Iran views Malaysia as a friend that could serve as a model of how an
Islamic country could be progressive and successful," said ambassador Syed
Munshe.
He also lauded the presence of the Malaysian MPs and journalists as
this
would allow them to see Iran from close quarters and learn what this country was
really all about beyond the negative reports spewed by certain media outlets.
Syed Munshe said total trade between Malaysia and Iran stood at US$1.042
billion in 2007 and US$0.935 billion from January to August 2008.
Malaysia's major exports to Iran include palm oil, rubber, processed palm
oil, aircraft equipment and transportation parts and equipment.
Major imports from Iran include crude petroleum, organic chemicals and
other
products such as plastics and fruits.
Elaborating on Malaysia's involvement in housing, he said two companies had
been tasked with building initially 15,000 housing units in a satellite township
planned for one million people.
The diplomat also said that Telekom Malaysia was looking at expanding its
operations to become a bigger telecommunications provider for the whole country.
Syed Munshe expressed hope that the Malaysia-Iran joint trade committee
co-chaired by trade ministers of the respective countries could meet soon to
look at how trade and economic linkages could be further boosted.
Touching on certain economic sanctions faced by Iran, he said the embassy
constantly kept a pulse on the matter to enable the Malaysian business community
to go into areas which were not involved with such restrictions.
According to him, companies were treating this issue with caution so as not
to get entangled in situations that could adversely impact their business plans.
"But with strong commitment by both the governments of Malaysia and Iran, I
believe that economic as well as social and political ties will attain greater
heights in the future," said Syed Munshe.
The ambassador also said that closer ties in education were another
possibility, with Malaysia hosting over 4,800 Iranian students as of July 2008.
"But we're not able to send our students to Iran unless they are willing to
take up Persian. But Iran does have good medical and engineering faculties," he
added.
-- BERNAMA
TEHRAN, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Much of Iran has been gripped by cold weather over
the past few weeks with snow capping the mountains that ring its capital,
Tehran, where Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is
scheduled to begin his four-day official visit to this country.
Many observers feel the trip would lead to warmer relations and closer
trade
and economic ties between Malaysia and this Islamic republic of 72 million
people which has been in the limelight of late over its standoff with the West
regarding its nuclear ambitions, with Tehran stressing that the objectives are
peaceful in nature.
Iran has been slapped with sanctions by the United Nations and United
States
over the issue, but the Malaysian ambassador to Iran, Syed Munshe
Afdzaruddin, nonetheless believes that the republic has vast resources and
potential that could be tapped by Malaysians.
According to him, Malaysian investment in Iran totalled roughly US$40
billion to date, especially in the oil and gas sector.
Besides stalwarts like Petronas, Proton and Telekom Malaysia, which have
been present in Iran since the mid-1990s, other Malaysian companies linked to
the oil and gas business are making inroads here, not to mention others seeking
opportunities in housing, highway and railroad projects, among others.
"The Malaysian government is taking measures to facilitate financing that
can further boost trade and investment between both countries," Syed Munshe told
Malaysian journalists in the Iranian city of Esfahan where Abdullah was making a
one-day stopover before starting his second official visit to Iran, his first
back in 2005.
Abdullah is no stranger to Iran, having visited this country on several
previous occasions as Malaysia's deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
His latest visit to this country is to reciprocate Iranian President
Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad's official trip to Malaysia in 2007.
Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is expected to welcome the
Malaysian leader, who is accompanied on this trip by his wife Jeanne
Abdullah, Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim, Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Works
Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed and Deputy Science,
Technology and Innovation Minister Fadilah Yusof, at Tehran's Mehrabad
International Airport later Sunday.
Also in his entourage are four Members of Parliament (MPs), namely Halimah
Mohamed Sadique, Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikri, Hasbi Habibollahand Mohd Nor Othman,
as well as high-ranking government officials.
Abdullah is scheduled to hold talks with Ahmadinejad, who has been in power
since 2005, and witness the signing of memorandums of understanding, including
the one on science and technology as well as that between Malaysian car
manufacturer Proton and its Iranian partner Zagross Khodro.
The prime minister is also scheduled to call on Iran's supreme leader,
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and visit places of interest in Tehran, a
bustling city of some 12 million people.
"Iran views Malaysia as a friend that could serve as a model of how an
Islamic country could be progressive and successful," said ambassador Syed
Munshe.
He also lauded the presence of the Malaysian MPs and journalists as
this
would allow them to see Iran from close quarters and learn what this country was
really all about beyond the negative reports spewed by certain media outlets.
Syed Munshe said total trade between Malaysia and Iran stood at US$1.042
billion in 2007 and US$0.935 billion from January to August 2008.
Malaysia's major exports to Iran include palm oil, rubber, processed palm
oil, aircraft equipment and transportation parts and equipment.
Major imports from Iran include crude petroleum, organic chemicals and
other
products such as plastics and fruits.
Elaborating on Malaysia's involvement in housing, he said two companies had
been tasked with building initially 15,000 housing units in a satellite township
planned for one million people.
The diplomat also said that Telekom Malaysia was looking at expanding its
operations to become a bigger telecommunications provider for the whole country.
Syed Munshe expressed hope that the Malaysia-Iran joint trade committee
co-chaired by trade ministers of the respective countries could meet soon to
look at how trade and economic linkages could be further boosted.
Touching on certain economic sanctions faced by Iran, he said the embassy
constantly kept a pulse on the matter to enable the Malaysian business community
to go into areas which were not involved with such restrictions.
According to him, companies were treating this issue with caution so as not
to get entangled in situations that could adversely impact their business plans.
"But with strong commitment by both the governments of Malaysia and Iran, I
believe that economic as well as social and political ties will attain greater
heights in the future," said Syed Munshe.
The ambassador also said that closer ties in education were another
possibility, with Malaysia hosting over 4,800 Iranian students as of July 2008.
"But we're not able to send our students to Iran unless they are willing to
take up Persian. But Iran does have good medical and engineering faculties," he
added.
-- BERNAMA
