Muhyiddin to push Malaysia's profile as investment and education destination

Muhyiddin, who will arrive here Monday to begin his visit, is slated to attend a high-profile investment annual forum, Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2014, and Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX) 2014, which is touted as the most comprehensive forum for education, corporate training and career development in the Middle East.

The Malaysian Consul-General in Dubai, Datuk Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, said Muhyiddin had been listed to deliver a keynote address at the opening session of AIM 2014 on Tuesday.

"While addressing the audiences, he (Muhyiddin) may touch on partnerships, FDI (foreign direct investment) and at the same time promote Malaysia as an investment destination," he told Malaysian journalists here on Monday in conjunction with the working visit.

The AIM 2014, to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) on April 8-10, is to encourage FDI and country-specific public-private partnership opportunities by showcasing economic

potentials.

Ahmad Fadil said Malaysia's successful construction outfit in Dubai, Eversendai Corporation, and Sarawak-based traders including from the construction and halal-food industries were among those that would take part in the annual investment show.

On the sidelines of AIM 2014, he said Muhyiddin was scheduled to call on Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum.

Ahmad Fadil said Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, was scheduled to officiate the Malaysia pavilion, one of the biggest at the GETEX 2014, on Wednesday at the DICEC.

The pavilion could accommodate 25 participating public and private universities and higher learning institutes from Malaysia, including Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Nottingham University Malaysia and Sunway University, he said.

Ahmad Fadil said since the cost of pursuing education in Dubai was expensive, expatriates residing in Dubai among them from Pakistan and India would be sending their children to study in Malaysia.

"Usually when there is GETEX, there will be a series of interviews and applications (to study in Malaysia)," he said.

Malaysia's Education Ministry via its Dubai office has been participating in GETEX since the last few years to promote higher learning education in Malaysia.

Between 25,000 and 27,000 students from West Asia region are estimated to be pursuing their studies in Malaysia currently, he said.

On the sidelines of GETEX 2014, Muhyiddin is scheduled to receive calls from UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Higher Education and Scientific Research Sheikh Hamdan Mubarak Al Nahyan and UAE Education Minister Humaid Mohammed Al Qatami.

In conjunction with the visit, Muhyiddin will also meet Malaysian professionals residing in the UAE, with about 280 professionals expected to attend the session on Friday.

"Malaysian professionals are highly respected for their profesionalism and disciplines," he said.

There are some 5,000 Malaysian professionals -- bankers and oil and gas engineers among others -- currently residing in the UAE, mostly based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Ahmad Fadil said the bilateral relation between Malaysia and the UAE had reached a new level of friendship with regular exchange of high-level visits.

"Both countries have cooperated succesfully in many areas of common interest for mutual benefits. The UAE also assisted us in the search and rescue effort of the missing MH370 (plane)," he said.

The UAE is Malaysia's largest trading partner in the Middle East last year with total trade amounting to US$8.81 billion, an increase of 9.7 per cent compared with US$8.03 billion in 2012.