Malaysia Set To Attract More Investments As ASEAN Chairman

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, being the role model for Muslim countries and chairman of ASEAN this year, is expected to attract more investments, OIC International Business Centre Sdn Bhd said. Its chief executive officer, Raja Mohamad Abdullah, said Malaysia is the leader in terms of economic progression as well as social development among the 57 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Malaysia has one of the most flexible economies and the friendliest approach to business in the Muslim world, he said, adding that this helps spur investor confidence in Malaysia's fundamentals. "Malaysia is a role model - number one in the Muslim fraternity," he told reporters after the launch of the 6th Muslim World Biz 2015 at the Putra World Trade Centre by Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Hamim Samuri, here Thursday. On the spillover effects of Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN to Muslim countries, Raja Mohamad said Turkey and Qatar, which were ahead in technology and infrastructure, and have higher gross domestic product growth rates, also looked highly towards Malaysia. He said as a member of OIC and ASEAN, Malaysia has the advantage of being a catalyst in supplying Muslim-related products to OIC nations or the Muslim world. The five-day Muslim World Biz is organised by the OIC International Business Centre in collaboration with the government and the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade. Raja Mohamad expects sales and business-matching generated from the event this year to double to US$800 million from last year. The OIC International Business Centre was established in 2003 with the objective of promoting intra-trade among OIC member countries. -- BERNAMA