DEMAND IN MANUFACTURING SECTOR SLOWLY PICKING UP

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Demand in the manufacturing industry is
slowly picking up, especially for food and pharmaceutical products, according to
the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM).

FMM president Mustafa Mansur said the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak has
boosted the demand for pharmaceutical products.

"Although our exports are still weak, the industry has shown signs of
recovery," he told reporters on the sidelines of the World Chamber Congress
media conference here Tuesday.

Mustafa said that together with the improved demand, retrenchment in the
manufacturing sector was also declining.

"The retrenchments initially were mainly in the electronics industry but
then again when 223,000 workers were laid off, there were also vacancies for
27,000 workers," he said.

"The economy for the past months has slowly been recovering and I think the
trade figures have also shown an improvement," he added.

On the 2009 World Chamber Congress to be at the Kuala Lumpur Convention
Centre on June 3 to 5, Mustafa said more than 1,300 local and foreign
participants are expected to attend to discuss the latest business issues
affecting the world.

Sharing their views and experiences at the three-day event will be about 70
speakers from around the world, including Victor K. Fung, chairman of the Li and
Fung group of companies based in Hong Kong.

Fung, which also chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce, will
moderate a plenary session to discuss global challenges up to 2025.

Other confirmed speakers include Nestle Malaysia's managing director
Sullivan O'Carroll and Erik Peterson from the US Center for Strategic and
International Studies.
-- BERNAMA