Nature Alert: Uzbekistan Invites Malaysian Investors

Thursday 13 August 2009

Uzbekistan Invites Malaysian Investors

August 12, 2009

Uzbekistan Invites Malaysian Investors

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Uzbekistan is offering a host of attractive incentives in a move to lure more Malaysian investors to its shores.

Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan Deputy Minister, Shavkat A. Tulyaganov said the country was offering 30 years tax exemption and rent free industrial sites for investors setting up base in Uzbekistan.

"We will facilitate opportunities and identify suitable partners in Uzbekistan and match them with potential Malaysian investors," he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama after attending a briefing with members of the Malay Businessmen and Industrialist Association (Perdasama) here Wednesday.

The deputy minister and a 15-member delegation arrived yesterday for a three-day trade and investment promotion mission to Malaysia.

He said at present, bilateral trade between Malaysia and Uzbekistan was very limited but there was a huge potential and opportunities to further expand business ties.

"Last year, Uzbekistan recorded a trade turnover of US$50 million, with palm oil imports from Malaysia, accounting for 90 per cent of the trade.

"For 2009, we expect imports to hover around the same figure, but we are optimistic two-way trade will double or even triple and for investments to pick up following this trip," he explained.

He assured that the Uzbekistan embassy in Malaysia would simplify business visa applications to facilitate trade and investment missions for Perdasama member companies.

The deputy minister also proposed that Perdasama members visit Uzbekistan's free economic zone to discuss further collaboration opportunities.

He also said national oil and gas company, Petronas recently announced that it would invest US$2 billion, over the next five to six years, to carry out two major projects in Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, Perdasama is looking into venturing into the oil and gas, raw materials, fertilizers and plastics industries in Uzbekistan.

Its President, Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir said with easy visa application procedures, there was a good opportunity many joint ventures and investments would take place, both ways.

Perdasama has 13,000 member companies.

--BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=432350

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.