ARAB CITY MELAKA TO BE LAUNCHED TUESDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) -- Arab City Melaka, said to be the world's
first of its kind, will be launched this Tuesday, its developer Golden Corporate
Heritage Sdn Bhd (GCH) announced here Sunday.

This follows the signing of a contract between GCH and the Melaka state
government in Kuala Lumpur last Friday, it said.

Malacca (Malay: Melaka, dubbed as The Historical State) is the third
smallest Malaysian state. It is located in the southern region of the Malay
Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north
and the state of Johor to the south.

Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam signed on behalf of the
state government while GCH managing director Hesham El Din Fathi Mohamed
represented the company.

"We are willing to make the project a truly Arab City. Besides the
infrastructure, we are committed to bringing various Arab products to the city,"
Hesham told Bernama.

Kuala Lumpur-based GCH is a joint venture between Dubai, Saudi Arabian and
Malaysian partners. The company has branch offices in Dubai and Saudi Arabia
with diverse interests in real estate, trading, and oil and gas.

Among the proposed facilities at the Arab City are 15 restaurants which will
showcase the various Arab cuisines, a convention centre and a bazaar which will
have 200 shops.

"The launch, which will take place a few days after the contract signing,
reflects the goodwill of both the Melaka state government and the GCH in
promoting and enhancing investments in Malaysia," said Hesham.

There will be a multimedia presentation of Arab City Melaka at the launch to
be attended by local and some Arab media, businessmen and representatives from
the Arab embassies here.

-- BERNAMA