Oleh/By		:	DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat/Venue 	: 	HO CHI MINH CITY VIETNAM 
Tarikh/Date 	: 	09/03/96 
Tajuk/Title  	: 	THE OPENING OF MALAYA-VIETNAM GLASS 
			LIMITED FACTORY 



           It gives me great pleasure to be here today to
    inaugurate the opening of Malaya-Vietnam  Glass  Ltd
    (MVGL)   which   represents   one   of   the   first
    manufacturing joint-venture projects between Vietnam
    and  Malaysia.  Since both Malaya Glass of  Malaysia
    and Khanh Hoi Glass of Vietnam were already long and
    well-established   glass  manufacturers   in   their
    respective countries, it was natural that these  two
    companies  should  form  a  partnership  for  mutual
    benefit.
    
    2.   With an invested capital of US$25 million, this
    makes MVGL the largest and most modern glass factory
    in  Vietnam.   I was informed that this project  has
    provided  employment for 500 persons, many  of  whom
    were trained at the Malaya Glass plant in Johore.  I
    am   pleased  to  note  that  MVGL  which  commenced
    operations exactly a year ago, now serves the  needs
    of  not only Vietnam but several overseas markets as
    well.   In  addition the products  are  exported  to
    countries  like  Hong  Kong, Taiwan  and  Singapore.
    With  the Malaya Glass now planning to invest  in  a
    second glass factory in Vietnam, this time in Hanoi,
    it  is  clear that Malaysian companies and investors
    have   confidence  in  Vietnam  and   its   ecomomic
    potentials.
    
    3.    I  have  no  doubt that as we enter  the  21st
    Century,  Vietnam will become a major  manufacturing
    centre  in this region.  It is a matter of pride  to
    me  that Malaysia has been able to play a small role
    in  the  tremendous economic transformation that  is
    taking place in Vietnam today.
    
    4.   This glass factory standing here in Ho Chi Minh
    City  is  a shining example of the strong  bonds  of
    friendship  and cooperation that exist  between  our
    two  countries.   It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to
    officially declare this factory open.