Kazakhstan Seeks M'sian Participation In Infrastructure Development

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Kazakhstan is keen to forge collaborations with Malaysia to develop its infrastructure. Ahead of the two-day visit of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, a business delegation representing 25 companies from the Central Asian country held a roundtable meeting Malaysian businessmen on Monday. International Trade and Industry Minister of Malaysia Mustapa Mohamed said the delegation offered a number of projects for Malaysian participation which included 20 hospitals. "They are also keen to develop public transport in the cities of Kazakhstan," he told reporters at Menara MATRADE here where the meeting was held. The Kazakhstan president is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. Mustapa said the delegation was also keen to find out about Malaysia's model in developing various economic corridors. Kazakhstan is the most developed country in Central Asia. It is also Malaysia's second largest trading partner among Central Asian countries while Malaysia is Kazakhstan's second largest trading partner within the Asean region. In 2011, total trade between both countries was US$61.1 million with Malaysia's imports amounted to US$1 million while exports US$60.1 million. Last year, about 20,000 tourists from Kazakhstan visited Malaysia. -- BERNAMA