Oleh/By : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : BAHRAIN
Tarikh/Date : 21-04-2002
Tajuk/Title : THE OFFICIAL LAUNCHING OF THE
CONSTRUCTION OF MALAYSIAN TRADE
AND DISTRIBUTION CENTRE (MTDC)
Versi : ENGLISH
Penyampai : PM
I am most delighted to be here today with the
presence of prominent business leaders of Bahrain.
2. We are honoured to have with us His Excellency
Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. What we are
witnessing today is a testimony of a concrete form of
collaboration between Malaysia and Bahrain. This
collaboration is the establishment of Malaysian Trade
and Distribution Centre (MTDC) in Bahrain. When it is
completed and operationalised, it will be Malaysia's
first comprehensive trade exhibition and distribution
centre in West Asia.
3. This project is realised through the collaborative
efforts of both countries. The Government of Bahrain is
providing the land for the Centre, while the Government
of Malaysia is responsible for the design and
construction as well as the management and operation of
the Centre.
4. Bahrain was selected for the establishment of the
MTDC because:
- it is gaining importance as a re-export and
distribution centre in the West Asia and the
neighbouring countries with well developed port and
airport facilities, as well as logistics facilities
for warehousing and distribution.
- its status as the hub of banking and insurance services
in West Asia.
5. The Centre will complement the services sector on
banking, insurance and port facilities that are made
available by Malaysian companies in Bahrain. With this
package of facilities, Malaysian exporters to Bahrain
and its surrounding region will be able to obtain
benefit from a network of services and facilities
offered by Malaysian companies.
6. For Malaysia, the Centre will serve to promote
Malaysia as a manufacturer and exporter of quality
products and services in Bahrain and its surrounding
region. This is in tandem with the promotion of Bahrain
as a trade, services, distribution and industrial
centre in the region. Therefore, we are working
together to promote, facilitate and expand trade
between Malaysia and Bahrain and the neighbouring
countries.
7. With a total floor space of more than 37,000
square metres, the Centre will have two main buildings
for retail and warehouse facilities. The
emporium/hypermarket will form an important component
which will provide retail space for a wide range of
"Made-in Malaysia" products.
8. For Malaysian companies, the Centre provides a
platform to explore and familiarise themselves with
potential and emerging markets in West Asia. There will
also be facilities to showcase Malaysian products and
services that are available for export. The Centre will
also facilitate export through bulk shipment to Bahrain
and the surrounding markets which will help reduce
costs of transportation and handling. The warehousing
facilities are conducive for bulk-breaking and
repacking of smaller orders for redistribution to
buyers and importers in the region.
9. The strategic location of this Centre provides
easy accessibility to the public and business
community. For the business community in Bahrain and
the neighbouring countries, the Centre will provide
opportunities for them to view and inspect samples as
well as make enquiries on Malaysian products and
services that are available for export.
10. To make it a Centre that will also be attractive
to families, the Centre will have entertainment
facilities for the family, food outlets, individual
specialty shops, cineplex, sales and service centre,
and health centre/gymnasium.
11. Other facilities that are available include:
- Floor space for individual Malaysian exporters to
undertake special events and company promotions,
product launches and demonstrations.
- A resource library which will be equipped with on-line
databases on Malaysian exporters and product
information.
- Audio-visual facilities with adequate equipment for
business presentation and also to view corporate and
product information.
- Conference and seminar rooms for hosting business
presentations and meetings, particularly for Malaysian
companies to promote their products and services.
- Offices for the Malaysian External Trade Development
Corporation (MATRADE) and Malaysian Tourism Promotion
Board (MTPB).
12. By incorporating Malaysian architecture and design
features, this Centre will soon become a new landmark
building in Bahrain, particularly Manama.
13 In line with the "Malaysia Incorporated Concept",
the management and operation of MTDC Bahrain will be
conducted by a Malaysian private sector entity jointly
with their Bahraini partner.
14. With the establishment of the MTDC, I am confident
that the business community of both our countries will
be able to enhance business linkages and collaboration
for their mutual benefit. Consumers in Bahrain and the
region will have opportunities not only to know more
about Malaysian products and services, but also able to
purchase them direct from the retail outlets at the
Centre. For the traders, purchases can be made from the
centre for distribution or re-export to the countries
in the region. This will certainly lead to more
exchanges of trade between the two countries.
15. On this note, I would like to thank Prime Minister
Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the Government
of Bahrain for the strong support and assistance in
making the establishment of this Centre a reality. The
construction of the centre will commence soon. And
Insya Allah, it can start operation at the end of 2003.
Thank you.
Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri
|
|