MALAYSIA IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF KEY MARTS FOR GLOBAL REPORTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been identified as one of
the key markets for global investors, according to a report published by the
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).

In a statement, UKTI said the findings were revealed by UK's Secretary of
State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Lord Mandelson, at the Economist
Emergency Markets Summit held in London Thursday.

He said UK businesses should be strategic about their exports because many
emerging markets were outperforming developed economies, and were expected to
grow strongly for years to come.

The report, 'Survive and Prosper: Emerging Markets in the Global Recession',
examines global business attitudes to emerging markets in light of the global
downturn.

Commissioned by UKTI, the report gives fresh insights into the opportunities
and long-term strategic importance offered by emerging economies.

It was based on a survey of more than 540 high-level business executives
from across 19 business sectors, over 40 per cent of those interviewed worked
for companies headquartered in emerging markets.

"Malaysia was ranked fifth in the list of countries that are seen to be the
next wave of priority markets, a marked improvement from its 13th place in
2008," it said.

UKTI said Prime Minister Najib Razak welcomed the report.

"Malaysia has turned a corner and is aggressively advancing policies that
reinforced the country's competitiveness at a global level.

"I am pleased to see that our trading partners confirm this," he said.

Najib said the liberalisation process initiated recognised the fact that
Malaysia must remained open in order to be competitive and that the process of
opening up to overseas investment was critical to overall economic development.

"We have made large strides in opening the financial services sector in
particular.

"Supported by our talented and multi-lingual workforce, important
institutional reforms and a firm commitment to the rule of law, we feel Malaysia
is well on path to becoming a top competitor in the global economy and a premier
destination for foreign investment," he said.
-- BERNAMA