MUKHRIZ TO MEET GCC SEC-GEN ON POSSIBLE FTA

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- Deputy International Trade and Industry
Minister Mukhriz Mahathir will meet Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
Secretary-General Abdul Rahman ibn Hamad al-Attiyah to discuss the possibility
of establishing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and regional bloc.

The meeting will be held on the sidelines of the two-day Second Asean-GCC
Ministerial Meeting in Singapore that began Monday, said the Malaysian Foreign
Ministry in a statement here.

International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said
recently that Malaysia was keen to pursue an FTA with GCC countries to further
enhance business ties.

Malaysia was looking at expanding two-way trade and investments in all
sectors, especially Islamic banking and finance, construction, information
communication technology and renewable energy.

On Feb 27 this year, the Cabinet had agreed for Malaysia to commence FTA
negotiations with the GCC.

GCC member countries are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and
the United Arab Emirates.

-- BERNAMA