EXCHANGING VIEWS: Taib (left) and Hamad having a discussion.
Taib meets Qatari prime minister
Posted on October 10, 2012, Wednesday
DOHA: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is in Doha, Qatar for the ‘Inside Investor Forum Asia 2012’, was granted an audience with Qatari Prime Minister His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Jassim Jabr Al Thani.
A press statement yesterday said the two-day forum which began on Monday was a high-level business event organised by international media group and consultancy Inside Investor bringing together heads of state, investors and top-level company executives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to identify investment opportunities in both regions.
It was attended by leading businessmen from GCC countries namely Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.
Taib gave a keynote speech with the theme of investment opportunities in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), covering topics such as Sarawak – land of unspoiled beauty, unity in diversity, plenty of opportunities drive economic growth, SCORE development: the dynamo to move forward, investment opportunities in Samalaju Industrial Park, investment opportunities in Tanjung Manis Halal hub and business incentives for investors.
The topic of SCORE Development also covered hydropower potential, human capital development – high skills and high income as well as public sector facilities and private sector implements.
His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Rahman Khalifa Abdul Azziz Al Thani – Minister of Local Government and Municipalities, who represented the Prime Minister, and Asean secretary-general his Excellency Dr Suin Pitsuwan also gave keynote speeches during the opening ceremony.
Taib also had separate meetings with Rushidi Siddiqui, global director Islamic Finance OIC; a delegation led by His Excellency Sheik Hamad Faisal Thani Al Thani from the Qatari businessmen’s association and Surin.
In between, the Chief Minister also gave interviews to Qatar TV and Gulf business and a press conference to the international media based in Dubai.
Meanwhile, Second Minister for Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan was interviewed by Inside Forum Investor Asia 2012 moderator Firoz Abdul Hamid, consultant of Public and Private Sectors and affiliated with the Oxford University London Business School.
Other members of the Sarawak delegation were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, advisor in the Chief Minister’s Department Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, Assistant Minister for Promotion of Technical Education Datu Len Talif Salleh, Tanjung Manis Member of Parliament Datuk Norah Tun Abdul Rahman, State Planning Unit director Datu Ismawi Ismuni, Ministry of Industrial Development permanent secretary Datu Liaw Soon Eng and Sarawak Energy Berhad chief executive officer Torstein Dale Sjotveit.
Some 500 delegates comprising senior-level executives from over 100 companies attended the forum, which saw 46 speakers discuss the latest investment trends, opportunities, partnerships and portfolio diversification strategies.
The event was of particular interest to investors, corporations and decision makers from the public and private sector to identify opportunities in the rapidly growing 10-member Asean bloc and the oil-rich Arabian Gulf states.
These regions are currently bustling with activity in many sectors, and foreign direct investments have reached new record heights.
The expected economic integration of Asean members from 2015 will give the entire region further stimulus that companies and investors can capitalise on.
In tandem with Gulf countries, investors can find a broad spectrum of opportunities in Southeast Asia, be it in the sectors of oil and gas, finance, infrastructure, food security, real estate, technology, environmental techniques, skills training, or others.
For asset and wealth managers, the increased activity at the regional stock exchanges, especially in Malaysia, and the growing importance of both regions’ capital markets, is another draw.