PM HAPPY WITH RESPONSE TO LIMA 2009

LANGKAWI (Malaysia), Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak Wednesday
expressed satisfaction with the response to the 2009 Langkawi International
Maritime and Aerospace (Lima 2009) exhibition, saying it was seen as a relevant
and beneficial event even in the wake of the world economic downturn.

"I am proud to see that Lima 2009 has received good response from
international exhibitors.

"Lima is an established maritime and aerospace show in the region and,
despite the world economic crisis, the response has been most encouraging," he
told a news conference after witnessing the signing of several memorandums and
contracts between the government and defence industry companies in conjunction
with Lima 2009, here.

Lima 2009, which opened Tuesday and will be on until Saturday, has drawn 325
exhibitors from 25 countries, among them international companies such as
Eurocopter, BAE Systems, Thales and the DCNS Group.

Lima, launched in 1991, is now a major destination for companies
manufacturing maritime and aerospace equipment which have the Asia Pacific as
the target market in the defence, enforcement and civil sectors.

Najib also expressed satisfaction with the participation of aircraft and
vessels in Lima 2009.

"This time, the maritime event is the biggest yet," he said. Fifty-four
aircraft and 99 vessels, including warships, are taking part in Lima 2009.

The prime minister also had words of praise for local companies which had
upgraded their capabilities and were able to compete with the international
firms.

"The four measures adopted by the government have helped, step by step, to
enhance the capacity of the local companies, which have come for recognition in
the region and also the world," he said.

The government's assistance for these companies has been by way of support
for the vendor development programmes and through its procurement policy, he
added.

The government procurement policy gave priority to local companies if they
had the capacity, he said, adding that the government approach was to undertake
procurement based on national projects or programmes, such as the Government
Integrated Radio Network (GIRIN) which facilitated communication among 13
government departments.

Asked about new ideas pertaining to organising future Lima exhibitions,
Najib said it would be left to the Defence Ministry to make proposals.

"I hope we can continue to hold Lima because it will serve as the highlight
for all our programmes directed towards Lima for the signing of contracts and so
on," he said.

Najib also said that the holding of Lima in Langkawi helped to promote
tourism.
-- BERNAMA