MIDA, MIGHT COMPLETE AEROSPACE MISSION TO EUROPE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Industrial Development
Authority (MIDA) and Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology
(MIGHT) have successfully carried out a Specific Project Mission (SPM) to United
Kingdom (UK), Austria, Germany and France.

The aim was to capture more aerospace business opportunities arising from
increasing outsourcing trend by international aerospace players, and to promote
Malaysia as the preferred investment location particularly in the area of
aerospace manufacturing as well as, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO),
MIGHT said in a statement Friday.

The mission was headed by the Director of Transport Division of MIDA and
participated by representatives from MIGHT, Innopeak, CTRM and Subang Skypark.

"This initiative is in line with the decision made by the Malaysian
Aerospace Council (MAC) in positioning Malaysia to capture substantial
aerostructure work packages for the Next Generation Aircraft Programme," said
MIGHT president and chief executive officer Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman.

Yusoff is also MAC secretary.

He said that in order to strengthen supporting industries for the programme,
SPM had focused on bringing specialised foreign companies related to aircraft
general suppliers and toolings to Malaysia either through foreign direct
investment or joint venture with Malaysian players.

Beside specific discussions with aerospace companies in UK, Austria and
Germany, a briefing on the "Aerospace Investment Opportunities in Malaysia" was
given to more than 30 French companies.

The briefing was organised by GIFAS (French Aerospace Industries
Association).

This was followed by an informal networking session between representatives
of the Malaysian aerospace industries and GIFAS members.

"There are a lot of interests to select Malaysia as a preferred destination
for investment from companies such as Hexcel (composite raw material
manufacturer), ATR, Westcam, just to name a few.

"Now having understood our plan, we expect to announce good news from them
by the end of this year," Yusoff said.

Subsequent to SPM, International Business Wales will be conducting a
trade mission to Malaysia in October 2009 to explore specific opportunities.

At the moment, MIGHT said German company Krauss was finalising
collaboration with a Malaysian company in MRO.

A Memorandum Of Understanding had also been signed between established UK
tooling company M.A.N Engineering Solution Ltd and Innopeak Sdn Bhd for
technical training and technology transfer programme.

"In encouraging more investment into the country, the Malaysian government
is currently finalising a comprehensive investment package that specifically
caters for the wide spectrum of aerospace activities.

"This is in addition to the promoted areas for aerospace companies to
cluster such as the Malaysia International Aerospace Centre (MIAC) and Skypark
at Subang as well as Senai International Airport, Johor," Yusoff said.
-- BERNAMA