Relations With Guangdong Catalyst For Melaka's Growth - CM

By Fadzli Ramli MELAKA (Malaysia), July 24 (Bernama) -- Relations with Guangdong, a province on the South China Sea coast of China, can become an important catalyst for Melaka's growth, says Melaka Chief Minister Idris Haron. Thus, he said Melaka was excited at the prospect of relations, especially in the field of tourism, industries, culture, land usage and other economic cooperation with the Guangdong province. "We are very proud as Guangdong spoke of its intention to become our twin province or state. As a well-known province, it could have chosen another country or state in Malaysia. Instead, it chose Melaka. "For hundreds of years, Melaka has had close ties with China, and now we need to strengthen the relationship, and capitalise on opportunities from this relationship," he told Bernama recently. On July 6, the Malaysian prime minister's Special Envoy to China, Ong Ka Ting was quoted as saying that discussions were underway to turn Melaka and Guangdong into twin "friendly province and state". Idris said one of the pillars for the relationship to work was getting a flight from the Melaka International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam here to Guangzhou, the capital and largest city in Guangdong. He said the state government had several positive discussions with airline companies to make the direct flight a reality. "I truly believe this move (direct flight) will boost tourism from both ends of Melaka and Guangdong...we are well known for generating economic growth from tourism, so this will indeed, rake in economic benefits for Melaka," he added. LTAM recorded 24,616 passenger departures and 28,275 arrivals since the commencement of Malindo Air's operations on Nov 5 last year until May 15 this year. Currently, Malindo Air flies from LTAM to Kota Baharu (Kelantan state capital), Penang (Malaysian northern Penang state) and Pekan Baru in Indonesia. Melaka is also eyeing airline companies to establish direct flights from LTAM to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and three cities in Indonesia, namely Medan, Palembang and Surabaya. Besides tourism, Melaka is also keen to capitalise on economic opportunities from the booming industrial belt in Guangdong, especially involving the production of electrical appliances. Idris said Melaka, also rapidly industrialising, could become a twin province and state to Guangdong in industrial development. "Guangdong is one of the main regional producers of electrical goods in the world, and I believe Melaka can be a production hub for the distribution of electrical products for Guangdong," he said. In this regard, he said Melaka was scheduled to receive a visit from a Guangdong province delegation in September to discuss the matter further and gauge Melaka's potentials. -- BERNAMA