PM DEPARTS FOR A VISIT TO THREE GULF COUNTRIES

PETALING JAYA, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Saturday departed for an official visit to three Gulf countries.

The executive jet carrying Abdullah and wife Jeanne Abdullah took off from
the air force base in Subang, here.

Abdullah will kick off the official visit in Bahrain Sunday, followed by a
two-day visit to Qatar and United Arab Emirates (UAE), in a move to further
strengthen Malaysia's ties with these countries.

This is Abdullah's first visit to the three Gulf nations as prime minister.

Several cabinet ministers, senior government officials and corproate leaders
accompanied Abdullah during the visit.

Abdullah was scheduled to visit several projects undertaken by Malaysian
companies and also deliver keynote addresses at business forums in Bahrain and
Qatar.

Among the major projects in Bahrain are the RM560 million Formula One racing
circuit and the RM1.9 billion Bahrain City Centre project.

In Qatar, Malaysian companies are in the process of completing the
construction of Doha's international airport valued at RM1.9 billion.

In UAE, the construction of the five towers project in Al Reem island, worth
RM1.3 billion, is scheduled for completion in September. (US$1=RM3.56)
-- BERNAMA