EU TO FURTHER DEVELOP PROJECTS WITH MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 (Bernama) -- The European Union (EU) will further
develop projects in the fisheries, services and forestry sectors with the
respective local ministries to boost trade with Malaysia.

EU-Malaysia cooperation programme manager Pablo Iglesias Rumbo said today
that total trade between both parties may decline slightly this year from 28
billion euros recorded last year.

"This year, trade volume is expected to be less between the EU and Malaysia
due to the global economic uncertainty," he said after a briefing on the EU-East
Asean Growth Area (EAGA) Business and Technology Partnership here.

Rumbo said the trade deficit with Malaysia is also expected to continue as
the EU has always been a top export destination.

He hoped that with the EU-EAGA partnership, more EU firms will consider
forming partnerships with local small and medium enterprises, especially in
environment and energy, natural resources or forestry, agriculture and
aquaculture, and ecotourism.

According to Rumbo, EU firms should emulate Malaysia's move of diversifying
its businesses and exports to cushion the impact of the current economic
difficulties.

"We hope that in this trying times, EU firms will look at geographical areas
not ventured before," he said.

-- BERNAMA