ITALIAN TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- Italy, Malaysia's fifth largest trading
partner in the European Union, will continue to invest here amid the global
economic slowdown.

"The investment will not be stopped although we are facing economic turmoil.
We will be looking at opportunities particularly at the new growth corridors,"
said Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Adolfo Urso, to reporters here
Wednesday.

Urso said this after meeting with Deputy Minister of International Trade and
Industry, Mukhriz Mahathir, to discuss ways to further expand bilateral
trade and economic relations.

For the first four months of 2009, bilateral trade between Malaysia and
Italy amounted to RM2.033 billion (US$1=RM3.52) with exports totalling RM875.3
million and imports RM1.158 billion.

In terms of investments, as at end-March, a total of 96 manufacturing
projects with Italian participation had been approved, involving investments of
RM871.9 million.

-- BERNAMA