Explore Business Opportunities In India, Malaysian Firms UrgedKUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysian businesses have been urged to explore business opportunities in India as the country is the largest trading partner for Malaysia among South Asian countries.Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KLSICCI) president Datuk V.K.K. Teagarajan said the bilateral economic engagement between the two countries is expected to get a further fillip after the full implementation of the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
"CECA, that was inked on July 1 last year, is a free trade agreement which covers trade in goods and services, investment and economic cooperation that will open up new businesses between the two countries," he said.
He said Malaysia is the 21st largest investor in India with cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows from 1991 to 2008 valued at US$1.8 billion.
"In addition, about US$6 billion in Malaysian investmments are believed to be invested in India through the Mauritius route, notable among them are Maxis Communications in Aircel, Axiata in Idea Cellular Ltd, Khazanah with IDFC, Appolo Hospitals, Yes Bank and many more," Teagarajan said.
He was speaking at a news conference after a business delegation meeting between KLSICCI and India's Young Entrepreneur School at the Royal Selangor Club here today.
Also present were MIC deputy president and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam and Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Vijay K. Gokhale.
Teagarajan said total trade between Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi in 2010 was US$7.1bil (RM21.6bil).
Malaysian construction companies also have a large presence in India, having completed 52 construction projects worth US2.34 billion in India while 35 projects of similar value are under various stages of implementation, he said.
Among the successful projects are the Malaysian Airports Bhd (MAHB) partnership with GMR Group of India which completed an airport in Hyderabad in 2008 and the second airport in Delhi in July 2010, he said.
Meanwhile, Subramaiam said India' economy is rapidly growing at around nine per cent annually.
"India also has a large middle class of 450 million people, offering many business opportunities for Malaysia especially," he said.
He also expressed hope that the meeting between the Malaysian and Indian business communities would result in more joint-venture construction projects and other business opportunities.
-- BERNAMA
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