MALAYSIAN COMPANIES SHOW COMPETITIVENESS IN UAE, SAYS MINISTER

By Abdul Muin Majid

DUBAI, March 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian companies which have won contracts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have something to be proud of as they are dealing with a highly competitive environment.

According to UAE's Foreign Trade Minister Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, many
companies would come with the intention of doing business in this Gulf nation.

But only those who were competitive could be successful, she told a news
conference at the opening of the Malaysia Services Exhibition (MSE) 2009 at the
Dubai Airport Expo here Tuesday.

Present was Malaysia's International Trade and Industry Minister
Muhyiddin Yassin.

Sheikha Lubna said business people had to be competitive when promoting and
marketing their products and services in a global market.

"You have companies in the UAE, and due to the quality and
cost-effectiveness of the products (and services) offered, that makes the
Malaysian companies very competitive here," she said.

The minister mentioned several projects in the UAE involving the
participation of Malaysian companies which, according to her, were a reflection
of the quality and commitment of such companies.

On the three-day exhibition organised by the Malaysia External Trade
Development Corporation (Matrade), Sheikha Lubna noted the wide array of
products and services on offer.

"It means that Malaysia has a very diversified economy," she said.

The service clusters represented at MSE 2009 are construction, engineering,
financial services, healthcare and hospital-related services, ICT, oil and gas,
education and specialised training, energy and power generation, logistics and
transportation, professional services, franchising, and design and art.

Some 200 Malaysian companies are taking part in the second edition of MSE,
with the first having been organised in Sharjah last year.

-- BERNAMA