SAGA TO TAKE CENTRESTAGE AT IAAE 2008

From Tengku Noor Shamsiah Tengku Abdullah

TOKYO, March 10 (Bernama) -- The Proton Saga will take centrestage at the
coming 8th International Auto Aftermarket Expo 2009 (IAAE) on Friday as a
symbol of Malaysia's capability to produce quality cars in the region.

Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) director in Malaysia, Tomoko
Fukada, said although the IAAE 2009 catered more to the car parts market, Proton
Holdings Bhd's presence would give a boost to the 11 Malaysian parts
manufacturers who had been invited to participate in the event by Jetro in
collaboration with the Malaysian External Trade Development Corp (Matrade).

"We will just show the Proton car. At this moment Proton has no plans to
sell its cars in Japan because the latter's market is competitive.

"This is just a symbol of Malaysia's carmaker's capability to create this
kind of car as in Japan," she told Bernama here Tuesday.

Fukada said Jetro, together with Matrade, would help Malaysian parts firms
as the exhibition would give them the opportunities to work together and forged
partnerships with the Japanese.

She said their participatiion was part of the Malaysia Japan Automotive
Industry Cooperation, or MAJAICO Project.

It is part of the Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and Malaysia
sealed in July 2006, she said.

IAAE 2009, which will be held at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre,
or Tokyo Big Sight, will gather experts and representatives from car-related
businesses in Japan and across the world to update each other and share views on
the business trends.
-- BERNAMA