Oleh/By  	:	DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue	:	TRIPOLI, LIBYA
Tarikh/Date	:	19-04-2002
Tajuk/Title 	:	THE DINNER WITH THE 
			BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Versi 		:	ENGLISH
Penyampai	:  	PM 
		    


        I  am  most delighted to be here today to  be  with
   the  business  people of Libya.  We are  here  today  to
   share    with   you   the   investment   and    business
   collaboration that the business communities of  Malaysia
   and Libya can explore and forge.
   
   2.    The  Malaysian  economy is private-sector  driven.
   The  Government  facilitates by  putting  in  place  the
   necessary policies, structures and framework to  provide
   a  conducive and pro-business environment to ensure that
   the  private  sector  remains  as  the  main  engine  of
   growth.   The Malaysia-Incorporated Policy adopted  more
   than  a  decade  ago has worked very well for  Malaysia.
   Collaborative  partnership between  the  government  and
   the  private  sector provides the necessary impetus  for
   the  continued  development of the key  sectors  of  the
   economy.   Such  a collaborative effort  contributes  an
   effective partnership in national development,  that  is
   mutually  beneficial to both the public and the  private
   sectors.
   
   3.    Malaysia  has  achieved a high level  of  economic
   growth,  averaging  more than  8%  per  annum  over  the
   period  1988-1997,  prior to the  East  Asian  financial
   crisis.    While   Malaysia  experienced   an   economic
   contraction  in 1998 of 7.4% due to the  impact  of  the
   crisis,  its  economy has however recovered  quickly  to
   register  growth of 6.1% in 1999 and 8.3% in 2000.   The
   global   economic   slowdown  in   2001   had   affected
   Malaysia's  economic  growth and  during  the  year  the
   country  registered  a  real GDP growth  of  only  0.4%.
   With  the  upturn of the global economy this  year,  the
   GDP growth for 2002 is forecast at 3.5%.
   
   4.    Malaysia is a model of a modern, tolerant,  secure
   and  progressive Muslim country, despite  some  negative
   Western  reports, particularly in the aftermath  of  the
   September  11  tragedy in the US.  It is a multi-racial,
   multi-religious,   multi-cultural   and    multi-lingual
   country.   All races in the country live in harmony  and
   Malaysia   draws  its  strength  from  its  multi-ethnic
   diversity.  Political stability, racial harmony and  the
   progressive minds of its people are instrumental in  the
   growth  of the economy.  From a nation heavily dependent
   on  primary commodities some forty over years  ago,  the
   country  is now diversified with a broad economic  base.
   We  are the 18th largest trading nation in the world  of
   which   over   80%  of  exports  comprise   manufactured
   products.
   
   5.    Malaysia  has  trade  links  with  more  than  170
   countries.    It   is  the  desire  of   the   Malaysian
   businessmen  to establish stronger linkages  with  their
   counterparts  in  Libya.   Currently,  bilateral   trade
   between  our countries is small.  In 2001, our bilateral
   trade   amounted  to  only  US$5.2  million   of   which
   Malaysia's  exports  to Libya stood  at  US$3.9  million
   while  imports totalled US$1.3 million.    Efforts  must
   be  intensified  by  both  our business  communities  to
   enhance the trade flows.
   
   6.    Malaysian manufacturers can supply a wide range of
   industrial  and  consumer products  to  Libya.  Products
   that  Malaysian manufacturers can supply  to  cater  for
   Libya's   requirement  at  competitive   price   include
   electrical   and   electronics  parts  and   components,
   computer   software  and  hardware,   halal   food   and
   beverages,   rubber   products,   palm   oil   products,
   furniture,  and  timber  products.    In  the  area   of
   services,  Malaysian companies are ready to offer  their
   expertise  and  experience  in healthcare,  construction
   services and infrastructure development.
   
   7.     The  participation  of  Malaysia  External  Trade
   Development  Corporation (MATRADE) in the  30th  Tripoli
   International  Fair from 2-12 April 2002  is  among  the
   efforts   undertaken  by  Malaysia  to   enhance   trade
   linkages  with  Libya.  Similarly  we  look  forward  to
   increased participation by Libyan businessmen  in  trade
   fairs and exhibitions held in Malaysia.
   
   8.    We noted the efforts by the Government of Libya in
   attracting   foreign  investments  into   the   country,
   particularly  following  the  suspension   of   the   UN
   Sanctions  on  Libya  in 1999.   As  Malaysia  has  been
   successful  in  attracting sizeable foreign  investments
   over  the  years, we would be delighted  to  share  with
   your  country  our experience in this field.   We  would
   also  like  to partake in your investment drive  through
   joint  ventures and collaboration.  Malaysian  companies
   have   ventured   overseas  in  many  fields   including
   manufacturing,  construction  of  highways,  ports   and
   airports,  infrastructure  development  such  as   power
   generation,   telecommunications  and  water   treatment
   projects.
   
   9.    Promoting foreign direct investment (FDI)  remains
   an  important  strategy  for generating  and  sustaining
   Malaysia's   economic   growth.    In   2001,   Malaysia
   attracted  FDI  of  US$4.8 billion in the  manufacturing
   sector.   The  investments  were  mainly  in  technology
   intensive  projects, in sectors in  which  Malaysia  has
   developed strong competitive edge, and has evolved  into
   a  viable and competitive manufacturing and export base.
   Malaysia  remains  a competitive and  viable  investment
   location.  The Government is committed and continues  to
   improve  upon  policies which have proven attractive  to
   investors,    particularly   fiscal    and    non-fiscal
   incentives,  as well as strengthening the institutional,
   administrative  and  infrastructural  support  to   both
   trade and industry.
   
   10.  Libyan businessmen should also avail themselves  of
   the  opportunities  to invest in Malaysia,  particularly
   in  the  manufacturing sector, where  a  wide  range  of
   activities have been identified for promotion. They  can
   be considered for fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
   
   11.   Although  Malaysia is relatively a  small  country
   with  a  population  of only around 24  million,  it  is
   nevertheless  a  gateway to the more  than  530  million
   ASEAN  market,  which  is  now  in  the  final  year  of
   evolution  into  the  ASEAN Free  Trade  Area  or  AFTA.
   Libyan  business community should use Malaysia as  their
   springboard  into  the  ASEAN market,  using  Malaysia's
   strong  trade linkages with the ASEAN member  countries.
   Malaysia has a good track record as a manufacturing  and
   export  base  for both the regional and global  markets.
   Malaysia   also  serves  as  a  location  for   regional
   operation of many large corporations.
   
   12.   The  Government of both countries have  laid  down
   frameworks  for  closer economic cooperation.   We  have
   concluded  the Bilateral Trade Agreement; the  Economic,
   Scientific and Technical Cooperation Agreement  and  the
   Cultural  and  Scientific Cooperation Agreement.   While
   the   Government  provides  the  framework,  it  is  the
   private  sector's  active  involvement  that  will  help
   realise  the objective of an enhanced economic relations
   between  both countries. Opportunities accorded  to  the
   businessmen  should be optimised, to establish  contacts
   and   linkages   with  their  Libyan   counterparts   in
   discussing business collaborations for mutual benefits.
   
   13.   Finally, on behalf of the Government,  the  people
   of   Malaysia  and  the  Malaysian  business  delegation
   members  with  me  here,  I would  like  to  express  my
   sincere  appreciation  to the Government  of  the  Great
   Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya for  the  very
   warm  welcome and hospitality extended to my  delegation
   and I.

   Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri