SAUDI KEEN ON COLLABORATING WITH MALAYSIA TO DEVELOP TOURISM INDUSTRY

From Jeffri Mohd Rafiee

JEDDAH, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia is keen to tap Malaysian expertise
and work together to promote its tourism industry.

International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed and Saudi
Arabia-Malaysia Business Council chairman Dr Sheikh Ghassan Al-Sulaiman Saturday
discussed investment and joint venture potentials, which included the
development of tourism-related infrastructure.

Malaysian Trade Commissioner here, Amran Yem, said Malaysia was invited to
take part in the development of "Islam-centric" tourism projects in view of its
success in the sector.

"The first step is to meet the demand of the domestic market and later
international, particularly for the Muslims.

"Malaysia welcomes the initiative by the Saudis to explore opportunities for
Malaysian companies offering services, expertise and management to the proposed
proj
ects," he said.
Mustapa arrived here Thursday en route to performing umrah in Mecca before
continuing with his week-long trade and investment mission to three Arab
countries including Qatar and Egypt.

In Mecca, he was briefed on the Jabal Omar development project near the
Grand Mosque and was told of a plan to expand Malaysia's involvement.

Among Malaysian companies currently involved in the project are Ahmad Zaki
Resources and United Engineers.

Mustapa also met Malaysians working and studying in Mecca organised by the
Malaysia Business Council in Saudi Arabia.

The council was formed in early 2009 to bring together Malaysian and Saudi
professionals and entrepreneurs to enhance business relationship.

On the way to the Jeddah airport before taking a flight to Riyadh, Mustapa
stopped at a beach, a popular picnic spot among locals, to see the facilities
there.

In Saudi capital, the final stop of the mission, Mustapa is scheduled to
meet, among others, Saudi Finance Minister Dr Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al Assaf,
assistant secretary-general for Economic Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Mohd Obeid Al Mazroui and president and chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism
and Antiquities Prince Sultan Bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia was Malaysia's second largest trading partner in West Asia in
2008 with total trade amounting to RM11.1 billion, or 20.3 percent, of
Malaysia's trade with the region and 0.9 percent of Malaysia's global trade.

Exports to Saudi Arabia amounted to RM3.5 billion and imports RM7.6 billion
in 2008 while in the January-July period this year, trade with Saudi Arabia
amounted to RM4.1 billion.

As at December 2008, Saudi companies implemented three manufacturing
projects in Malaysia involving a capital investment of RM80.6 million in
electrical and electronics, and textile products. (US$1=RM3.38)

In the non-manufacturing sector, significant investments were in
information, communications and technology-related, property and financial
services.

Mustapa will return home on Sunday.
-- BERNAMA