EXPLORE PALM OIL, TOURISM BUSINESS IN UZBEKISTAN, UZBEK ENVOY ASKS SABAH BUSINESSMEN

By Newmond Tibin

KOTA KINABALU (Malaysia), July 28 (Bernama) -- Uzbekistan Ambassador to
Malaysia Shukur Sabitov has asked Sabah businessmen to explore business
opportunities, particularly in palm oil and tourism industries, in his country.

He said although Uzbekistan had established good trade relations with
Malaysia, one of the world's biggest palm oil producers, there was no palm oil
company from Sabah exporting the commodity to the Central Asian country.

"We have several companies from other parts of Malaysia that exported palm
oil to Uzbekistan but there is none from Sabah. That's why we are inviting palm
oil companies in Sabah to tap Uzbekistan market," he told BERNAMA Wednesday.

Sabitov said he was impressed with latest developments in Sabah's palm oil
industry, especially the setting up of the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster
(POIC) in the east coast.

"I believe Sabah (an East Malaysia state), being the largest palm oil
producer in Malaysia, has much to offer for my country with a total population
of about 27 millIon people," he said.

In this respect, he urged the Sabah government to send a trade delegation
to Uzbekistan to forge closer ties with any region in that country in commodity
trade and investment.

Sabitov said business potential can also be explored in tourism, wood-based
and handicraft industries.

"Sabah has many natural tourist attractions such as Mount Kinabalu
(eco-tourism) and Sipadan, the best diving spot in Malaysia and among the
world's best.

"You are lucky because you have the sea and forest. In Uzbekistan, we don't
have the sea to enjoy swimming and diving, and I believe Sabah could be an ideal
place for the people of Uzbekistan to visit.

"Likewise, Uzbekistan is famous for historical sites, especially in Tashkent
(the capital of Uzbekistan) and Samarkand (the second largest city)," he said.

Urging Sabahans to visit Uzbekistan, Sabitov said the Uzbekistan Embassy in
Kuala Lumpur would discuss with AirAsia soon on the feasibility of having
direct flights from Kota Kinabalu to any regions in Uzbekistan.

At the moment, there are only twice weekly flights from Uzbekistan to Kuala
Lumpur, and with the availability of direct flights from here to Uzbekistan, it
would spur the tourism industry for both Sabah and Uzbekistan.

As such, he urged Sabah tourism players to attend the two-day Tourism Fair
to
be held in Tashkent from Oct 7.

Last year alone, more than 20,000 Uzbeks visited Malaysia, and hoped tourist
arrivals to this country would increase this year, said Sabitov.

On his meeting with Chief Minister Musa Aman here Tuesday, Sabitov
said he held fruitful discussions with Musa.

"During the discussions, Musa briefed me on the various investment
opportunities available in Sabah incluing in the POIC, Sabah Development
Corridor and Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park," he said, adding that in return, he
touched on business opportunities in Uzbekistan.

Sabitov said he was impressed with the overall development, economic and
social, taking place in Sabah, located in north Borneo Island.

He also invited Musa to visit Uzbekistan.

-- BERNAMA



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