UAE Businesswomen Keen To Pursue Investment Partnerships

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s leading businesswomen have expressed great interest in exploring investment opportunities in the South East Asian countries. Raja Easa Al Gurg, President Dubai Business Women Council and Managing Director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group said the businesswomen were keen to work with high-profile counterparts in Malaysia on sectors ranging from healthcare to fashion to sukuk (Islamic bonds). "We see a lot of highly accomplished and visionary women business leaders in Malaysia and we are very keen to explore the immense opportunities," she said in a statement Wednesday. Al Gurg is among ten influential UAE businesswomen who are currently in Malaysia for the Power Ladies UAE-Malaysia Roundtable 2011 tour. "We want to take the commercial ties to the next level with the help of the businesswomen here, in mutual understanding and respect and to make a difference," she said. The UAE ladies met with leading women from the Malaysian corporate world during a presentation by the International Trade and Industry Ministry and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority on Malaysia's investment climate. On Tuesday, the ladies paid a courtesy call to the Chief Secretary to the Government Sidek Mohd Hassan in Putrajaya. President, Abu Dhabi Business Women Council and Chief Operating Officer, Al Jaber Group Fatima Al Jaber said the gathering of businesswomen from UAE and Malaysia offered a "very interesting approach to bringing businesswomen together in order to build cooperation". The Power Ladies tour organised by Inside Investor runs from December 5-9 and is aimed at providing the UAE guests with a greater understanding of the business opportunities available in Malaysia. The UAE delegation comprised among others, Faiza Al Sayed of the Al Fahim Group; founder and main designer for Oh, la la! Abbaya Couture Fathiya Saeed Al Khamari, Director, WorldSpace Middle East Khawla A Lootah and chief executive officer, Al Bashayer Investment Company Sara Ismail Mohamed. Among those representing the Malaysian business community are the chief executive officer, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation Dr Wong Lai Sum, chief executive officer SME Corp Malaysia Hafsah Hashim and Manager, Capital Market Professional Unit, Securities Commission of Malaysia, Shireen Kandiah Fuad. Together with more than 20 leaders from the Malaysian private sector, the group engaged in lively discussion on mutual opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, fashion, cosmetics, furniture, logistics, contract manufacturing, IT services, sukuk investments and others. A presentation by MIDA on latest investment trends and business opportunities showed that over the last three years, UAE companies invested in eight projects worth US$53.16 million in Malaysia. -- BERNAMA