GAEC MAY HELP BUSINESSMEN IN ASEAN, GULF REGION

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- GCC-Asean Economic Centre (GAEC) may help businessmen in Asean and the Gulf region to expand their businesses with minimum or zero investment.

In Malaysia, GAEC said it would work closely with agencies, particularly the
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA).

It said GAEC's temporary office is located at MIDA's head office in Kuala
Lumpur.

GAEC Director Nor Azmi Abdullah said the centre, opened in August 2008,
started receiving requests and assignments from the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) for collaborations with potential partners in Malaysia and Asean member
states, particularly in the food, telecommunications, tourism, real estate,
Islamic banking and energy sectors.

He said several parties, including government-linked companies and national
oil companies from Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, South Korea and China,
have also initiated discussions with GAEC.

Nor Azmi said a number of special-purpose-vehicles and joint-venture
companies will be established in the foreseeable future to give effect to the
proposed collaborations.

Most countries in the GCC are major oil and gas exporting countries, with
world's largest oil and gas proven reserves and production.
-- BERNAMA