MODENAS PLANS FOR R&D CENTRE OVERSEAS

PENANG (Malaysia), Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's national motorbikes
company, Motosikal dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (Modenas), is planning on opening
a research and development centre overseas.

Disclosing this, the Chairman of the Motorcycle and Scooter Assemblers and
Distribution Association of Malaysia (Masaam), Syed Mohamad Aidid Syed Murtaza,
said Modenas had successfully penetrated overseas markets like Iran, Vietnam,
Brunei, Indonesia and Greece.

"The company is now looking to open an R&D centre outside the country to
expand the brand which is a country's pride while pushing up the country's
motorcycle industry to a higher level," he said after officiating the Small
Engine Technology Conference here Tuesday.

He said Modenas currently had a R&D centre in Gurun and sales of its
motorcycles have been very good.

Syed Mohamad Aidid, who is also President of the Federation of Asian
Motorcycle Industry (FAMI), said the country's open and streamlined automotive
policy had brought about more growth for the small engine motoring industry in
the country.

"Total sales of motorcycles in Malaysia has breached 500,000 units a year
with RM5 billion (US$1.5 billion) (worth)," he said.

All the motorcycles sold in the country also have their assembling factories
following the government's introduction of the open policy.

"Ten years ago, our country was importing a lot of motorcycles from overseas
including Japan. But looking ahead, the government changed the policy to be more
open. Now, there are 11 motorcycle manufacturing companies, and six engine
manufacturers nationwide," he said.

On the conference and exhibition being held here, he said about 350
engineers from both international and local engine manufacturing companies
including academicians had come together to share information on the small
engine technology.

"This is an opportunity for local engineers to share experiences and gain
new knowledge from the engineers of international automotive companies," he
said.
-- BERNAMA