Japanese Car Auction Company Shows Interest In Operating At Port Klang Free Zone

PORT KLANG (Selangor, Malaysia), Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Port Klang Free Zone Sdn Bhd, which operates the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) has been approached by a Japanese car auction company to set up its regional operations there. Port Klang Free Zone chairman Dr Teh Kim Poo said the president of the car auction company had met with him two days ago and expressed an interest in renting land at the PKFZ. Asked how big the investment would be, he said: "They want to take up a large area of between 20-40 hectares." He was speaking to reporters after briefing a 29-member delegation representing port industries from Osaka, Japan, who visited the free zone after arriving here Thursday. He said the company was seeking land to keep used cars from Japan to be relocated and also kept for auction for buyers from countries like Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam. Land or space to keep the cars in Tokyo is very expensive and the company was as such scouting for land to keep the cars. Dr Teh said besides a reasonable rental rate and tax free operations in the free zone, the car auction company would be able to ship their cars faster through the nearby Westport should they decide to invest here. However, he did not elaborate further on the progress of the proposal, as it was still at an initial stage. Meanwhile, T. Hosokawa who led the Osaka port delegation, told reporters that they were impressed with Westport and the PKFZ. Hosokawa, who is also Executive Director of Tatsumi Shokai Co. Ltd said the representatives of the industry players from Osaka Port, hoped to have some cooperation with Port Klang and the PKFZ in the future following the visit. He said to date, the Osaka Port players had some investments in Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. The delegation will be visiting Port Klang (Selangor, Malaysia) and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (east Malaysia) port before heading back to Japan. -- BERNAMA