Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 26 October, 2006

KedahInvest To Help Promote More Investments In State

ALOR STAR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- InvestKedah Bhd (KedahInvest), a newly formed government linked-company (GLC) under the Menteri Besar Incorporated Act, will be the state's main player to attract new investors.

The company, which has received a good response from investors since its formation on April 30 this year, aimed to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) through a well organised programme.

Its chief executive officer Mohd Fuad Mohd Ali said the company's website, which included information in Mandarin, had received almost 6,000 hits for the past five months.

"We are ready to welcome investors in all sectors from high-technology to a small and medium-sized (SME) investments, either from local or FDI," he told Bernama in an interview here Thursday.

Mohd Fuad said KedahInvest was currently promoting industries such as biotechnology, agro-based, high-technology, manufacturing, transport, tourism and services.

He said being the state's one-stop centre for the industrial sector, KedahInvest will facilitate the activities of both foreign and local investors and assist in solving their problems, provide comprehensive information and advice, and also promote Kedah locally and abroad.

Mohd Fuad said KedahInvest was also acting as a networking agency to facilitate communication between the government with investors, and investors with investors, and making proposals and recommendations to investors and the state government.

"Kedah has the sufficient facilities to attract investors such as world-class infrastructure, airport and port, and excellent electrical and telecommunication networks to support its industrialisation," he said.

Mohd Fuad said KedahInvest will play a major role as a facilitator to develop the North Corridor which involved Sime-Darby as the main player, especially in agriculture, industry, education and tourism.

"We are now negotiating with an international hospital from the United States to open a joint-venture hospital in Langkawi with a local multinational company whereby the cost can be very much cheaper," he said.

According to him, the cost at the proposed hospital could be up to 90 percent lower than similar treatment in the United States.

Mohd Fuad also said that KedahInvest was facilitating a proposed project by Sime-Darby and Kedah Agro-Industries Company to open a 2,000-acre maize plantation using technology from China.

Those interested to know more about KedahInvest can look up its website at http://www.investkedah.com.my or e-mail: info@investkedah.com.my.

-- BERNAMA