Oleh/By : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : MANAMA, BAHRAIN
Tarikh/Date : 21-04-2002
Tajuk/Title : THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF PETRONAS'
BAHRAIN OFFICE
Versi : ENGLISH
Penyampai : PM
First of all, I would like to thank PETRONAS for
inviting me to officially open their Bahrain Office. I
am delighted that PETRONAS has once again successfully
spread its wing into a new frontier, this time making
its entry into an Arab Gulf State.
2. PETRONAS' maiden involvement in Bahrain's oil
and gas industry signifies yet another milestone in
the bilateral relation between Malaysia and Bahrain.
The signing of the Exploration and Production Sharing
Agreement for Blocks IV and VI between the Ministry of
Oil of Bahrain and PETRONAS in Kuala Lumpur on 1
November last year has undoubtedly paved the way for
greater Malaysian investment in this island kingdom.
3. We are indeed pleased that the Government of
Bahrain has decided to award the production sharing
contract for the two offshore blocks to the Malaysian
National Oil Corporation following a highly
competitive international bidding. More meaningful is
the fact that PETRONAS has been assigned the sole
operatorship with a 100% equity for each block. This,
I believe, is a manifestation of the high level of
confidence and trust that the Government of Bahrain
has in PETRONAS based on its remarkable reputation and
proven track record.
4. Malaysia and Bahrain actually shares a number of
similarities. Both have always been trading nations
and both are strategically located. In the earlier
days, Bahrain was known for its pearl industry and its
skilled craftsmen. Its fortune changed with the
discovery of oil in 1932. Malaysia, on the other hand,
survived on agriculture and mining; exporting most of
the commodities in its raw form. After oil was found
offshore Terengganu in the East Coast of Peninsular
Malaysia in the 1970s, Malaysia has gradually shifted
the focus of its economy from agro-based to
manufacturing and industrialisation, with the
petroleum sector functioning as one of the main
engines of growth.
5. Both national oil companies, BAPCO and PETRONAS,
have played, and I believe will continue to play, a
major role in national development. I hope the
relationship that has been forged between these two
NOCs will be further strengthened with the presence of
PETRONAS here. I suppose it would not be far fetched
to expect a partnership or strategic alliance between
both NOCs in future, leveraging on the combined
strengths, experience and expertise, resulting in
investment stretching beyond the shores of both
countries.
6. On the part of the Malaysian Government, I would
like to assure you that we will continue to encourage
and extend support to our private sector to invest in
Bahrain. Until the end of last year, the value of
direct trade between our two countries was in favour
of Bahrain, with total trade amounting to RM234.36
million (22.32 million Bahrain dinar) in the first
three quarters of 2001.
7. In efforts to boost trade relations between
Malaysia and Bahrain as well as its neighbouring Gulf
nations, we have sent a delegation to Manama in
February this year to work on the establishment of a
Malaysian Trade Centre in this country. An area of
70,000 sq metres at Durrat Al Bahrain in Seef has been
earmarked for the site of this trade centre which will
be used to market Malaysian products in Bahrain and
its neighbouring countries. On the drawing board
include plans to construct other facilities to re-
export Malaysian-made goods in the Middle East.
8. I was informed that the Bahrain Government has
agreed to provide the necessary legal and
infrastructure services required to realise this
project. According to schedule, the trade centre is
expected to be operational by early 2004. With the
setting up of the trade centre and the upstream
activities of PETRONAS, the economic ties between
Malaysia and the Gulf state are poised to be stronger.
Notwithstanding these two activities, Malaysia and
Bahrain are also set to forge closer co-operation in
Islamic finance and banking as reflected by the
Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two
countries during the visit of Bahraini Prime Minister
His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa Salman Al-Khalifa to
Malaysia last year. Another MOU, signed early last
year, provided the avenue for Malaysian companies to
participate in Bahrain's new USD $500 million Salman
Port project. Indeed, Bahrain offers many investment
opportunities to Malaysian businessmen and companies,
from the oil and gas-related activities to banking and
finance and to a wide range of construction works.
9. Before I conclude, I would like to once again
record my appreciation to PETRONAS for inviting me to
this momentous occasion. I believe that the
establishment of PETRONAS Office in this National Bank
of Bahrain Tower, a prestigious landmark in this
capital city, will enhance not only the image of
PETRONAS but also Malaysia in this part of the world.
More importantly, the opening of the office reinforces
the commitment of PETRONAS and certainly Malaysia
towards a long term presence and a mutually beneficial
relationship with Bahrain. With the verse
Bismillahhirrahmannirrahim, I hereby officially open
the PETRONAS Bahrain Office.
Thank you.
Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri
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