PORT Klang Free Zone Sdn Bhd (PKFZSB), the manager and marketer of the RM4.6 billion free zone in Pulau Indah, Selangor, has secured four new investors, bringing the total confirmed investment since its inception in November 2006 to RM734 million.

“The confirmation of the latest investors brings to 43 the number of confirmed tenants in Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ),” PKFZSB director Tengku Datuk Zainal Rashid told Business Times in an interview.

“We are continuing negotiations with another 50 companies with a potential investment of RM610 million,” he said.

Having to deal with a lot of flak for the huge cost of developing the free zone and the pullout of Jafza International from the project, PKFZSB has been working overtime to create awareness and bring investments into PKFZ.

Tengku Zainal, who is also the past president of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, acknowledges that much still needs to be done to create greater awareness on the economic benefits of investing in PKFZ.

“While the shipping and logistics community is aware of PKFZ, there are still some sections in the manufacturing industry and small and medium enterprises that are not fully aware of the advantages of investing in the free zone. We are now increasing our efforts to reach out to these groups,” he said.

The 405ha free zone offers 512 light house/warehouse units, 258ha prepared industrial sites for long-term lease and 500,000 sq ft of office space. PKFZ also has a 135-room business hotel and exhibition centre, which is scheduled to be opened by the end of second quarter.

“We have removed or reduced a lot of red tape that normally hinders the setting up of a business. For instance, an investor can start a business in PKFZ within a week as we have set up a one-stop centre to liaise with relevant parties and bodies to ensure quick and smooth application,” said Tengku Zainal.

“Another major draw card is the incentives from the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority such as no sales and service tax or duty fees on goods produced and exported, full repatriation of profits and 100 per cent foreign equity,” he added.

Tengku Zainal is one of 10 directors appointed by the Transport Minister to serve one-year terms on the board of PKFZSB. PKFZSB comes under the purview of Port Klang Authority (PKA), which owns PKFZ.

“Of the 10 directors, two are alternate directors. Three of the directors are also from the private sector (namely Tengku Zainal, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers of Selangor chairman Tan Sri Dr James Alfred, Westports Malaysia Sdn Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam). We meet once a month. All of us are mandated to see the development and progress of the free zone. We have to pull our resources and ideas and consult with the management on how to promote PKFZ,” he said.

Tengku Zainal believes that PKFZ is on the right track.

“PKFZ is a national project. It will further enhance Port Klang as the main gateway to the country. We are in the process of generating employment, new business and earn foreign exchange for Malaysia.

“It just takes time to develop a new thing like this. Dubai also took nearly 10 years to develop the Jebel Ali Free Zone. We are only two years old,” he added.

WESTPORTS Malaysia Bhd (Westports) berjaya menarik dua lagi pengendali syarikat perkapalan utama (MLO) untuk mengadakan persinggahan di pelabuhannya mulai awal tahun depan.

Pengarah Eksekutifnya, Ruben Emir Gnanalingam, berkata pertambahan itu menjadikan jumlah MLO yang dikendalikan pada masa ini meningkat kepada 25.

“Setiap tahun kita mempunyai sasaran tertentu untuk menarik lebih banyak MLO singgah di Westports. Tahun ini saja, tujuh MLO baru iaitu ANL, KLine, Delmas, NYK, Hapag Lloyd, OOCL dan Hyundai mula singgah di Westports.

“Ini dijangka dapat membantu menyumbang kepada peningkatan dalam pengendalian kontena,” katanya ketika melawat Balai Berita, baru-baru ini.

Westports mencatatkan peningkatan 26 peratus pengendalian kontena bagi tempoh sembilan bulan pertama 2006 kepada 2.70 juta TEU berbanding 2.14 juta TEU dalam tempoh sama 2005.

Kenaikan itu terutama disumbangkan pertambahan persinggahan pengendali MLO di Westports serta peningkatan perdagangan antara Eropah dan Asia.

Pelabuhan itu mengendalikan 2.91 juta TEU, sepanjang tahun lalu. Pertumbuhan pengendalian kontena dalam tempoh kajian disumbangkan peningkatan perdagangan berikutan ekonomi dunia bertambah baik, terutama perdagangan intra Asia melalui Westports.

Westports dikendalikan Kelang Multi Terminal Sdn Bhd dan disenaraikan antara lima pelabuhan terbaik dunia daripada segi produktiviti.

Sementara itu, perdagangan tempatan Westports dijangka mencecah satu juta TEU tahun ini berdasarkan kepada pertumbuhan 14 peratus dalam tempoh sembilan bulan pertama.

Menyentuh mengenai pelaksanaan Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ), Ruben berkata, beberapa syarikat dari Norway, Sweeden dan China sudah menyatakan hasrat untuk membina infrastruktur berikutan kemudahan dan potensi yang ditawarkan zon berkenaan.

Beliau berkata, Westports bersedia memainkan peranannya sebagai logistik lebih berkesan terutama dalam mempromosikan hab halal di PKFZ sebagai pusat bagi pengeluaran dan pengeksportan produk halal di rantau ini.

“Syarikat ini akan mengimport banyak produk dan ia memberi kelebihan dari segi logistik kepada kita untuk lebih banyak mengeksport produk ini ke seluruh dunia,” katanya.

HE soon-to-be opened Port Klang Free Zone, based on the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai and recognised as the most successful free zone in the world, will boost Westports’ volume growth. CHONG POOI KOON writes.

WESTPORTS executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam is optimistic that the group will gain from the soon-to-be opened Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), which will help Port Klang to double its volume growth from six million to 12 million TEUs in the next five years.

This is in line with the Government’s call for the growth of containers from 12 million TEUs to 18 million under the 9th Malaysian Plan.

The zone, a 405ha international cargo distribution and consolidation centre adjacent to Westports, will be fully operational by year-end.

Owned by Port Klang Authority, the free zone is modelled on Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, recognised as the most successful free zone in the world and home to over 5,000 companies from over 120 countries.

PKFZ is managed and marketed by Jafza International, the manager of Jebel Ali Free Zone.

PKFZ is the Government’s second biggest investment in the port industry since 1990s and is developed as the country’s first fully-integrated free commercial and industrial zone.

Transport Minister Datuk Sri Chan Kong Choy said during a roadshow in Dubai recently: “PKFZ will be the Jebel Ali Free Zone of Malaysia and Southeast Asia as it is the only one being designed and developed with the expertise of Jafza International.”

He was leading a mission to Dubai earlier this month to promote logistic opportunities in Westports and PKFZ. The function was attended by over 400 shipping and maritime industry leaders there, including Salma Hareb, chief executive officer of Jafza.

Other members of the mission included Gnanalingam, Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Yap Pian Hon, PKA general manager Datin Paduka O.C. Phang and PKFZ managing director Noel Gulliver William.

The aim of this mission was to attract investors, manufacturers and shipping liners to come to Port Klang and be a part of PKFZ as well as participate in Malaysia’s halal initiatives in Port Klang and other parts of the country.

Chan said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had committed to formulating policies to ensure the most competitive business environment existed for PKFZ, and this meant PKFZ would mirror the incentives and privileges of Jebel Ali as closely as possible.

The Government recognised that the success of Jebel Ali Free Trade Area was due to the fact that it had autonomous power in all areas and aspects of operating the zone, including approvals concerning investors’ business operations.

He said the Government had agreed to explore the possibilities of replicating the system of the Jebel Ali One Stop Agency model for seamless trade facilitation.

Chan said: “If we have to relook at certain aspects of the service delivery system within the Government, we will do it. If we have to amend laws to realise this objective, we will make this happen.

“We are working in a whole new range of incentives and privileges to raise PKFZ to a level unseen before in Malaysia.”

The Government wants to simplify and speed up business procedures at the zone for a more efficient and seamless trade facilitation.

“Making a fast decision is vital,” he said.

“If foreign investors want to come in and they have to go to one department, waiting for an approval for three months and then go to another department for two months, that is frustrating.

“Making a fast decision is one area we are looking at seriously.

“We want to make sure PKFZ will be a new free zone experience for investors, both local and foreign, and we will make sure the public delivery mechanism lives up to these new expectations and standards.’

He said as PKFZ was a project of national interest, it had been given top priority by the Government and Selangor Government.

He said the Government was exploring the possibility of creating a one-stop agency, replicating Jebel Ali’s model, for seamless trade facilitation.

However, this did not mean that foreign companies coming to PKFZ could skip approvals from the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority for Foreign Investment Committee.

“PKFZ will not be identical to Jebel Ali, but will be as closely as possible. Today, we have with us here officials from the company registrar office, Mida, and Matrade. They have all been given a briefing and this information will be taken back to Malaysia and to the Prime Minister on how Jebel Ali is operated.

“We won’t change things for the sake of changing. Some of our incentives for Foreign Direct Investment under Mida, for example, are competitive and we will keep those.”

PKFZ ‘s William said PKFZ had promoted the area, having signed a Norwegian firm and putting over 40 others on hold to deliberate on some issues. He said PKFZ was competing on location. “Company tax is not the real incentive here. It’s the location that makes sense.”

The zone aims to have 500 to 600 companies within seven to 10 years, creating 20,000 to 25,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, Jafza’s Hareb said the company would sell PKFZ to its over 5,000 customers.

“The partnership with PKFZ completes our network around the globe. The customers trust us and we in turn trust our partner to take good care of the customers.”

THE Government wants to simplify and speed up business procedures at the up-and-coming Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) for a more efficient and seamless trade facilitation, Transport Minister Datuk Sri Chan Kong Choy said.

“Making fast decisions is vital,” he said. “If foreign investors wants to come in and they have to go to one department, wait for approval for three months and then go to another department for two months again, that it is really frustrating. Making fast decisions is one area we are looking at very seriously,” Chan told reporters in Dubai last week.

He said as PKFZ is a strategic project of national interest, it has been given top priority by both the Federal as well as the Selangor State Government.

PKFZ, a 405ha international cargo distribution and consolidation centre adjacent to Westport, is the Government’s second biggest investment in the port industry since 1990s and has been developed as the country’s first fully integrated free commercial and industrial zone.

Owned by Port Klang Authority, the free zone is modelled after the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, widely recognised as the most successful free zone in the world.

PKFZ is managed and marketed by Jafza International, the manager of Jebel Ali Free Zone and it will be fully-operational within this year.

Chan said the Government is exploring the possibilities of creating a one-stop agency, replicating Jebel Ali’s model, for seamless trade facilitation. This is because the Government recognises that the success of Jebel Ali Free Trade Area is largely due to the free zone authority having autonomous power in all areas and aspects of operating the area, including all approvals concerning investors’ business operations.

However, this does not mean that foreign companies coming into PKFZ could skip approvals from relevant authorities like Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) or the Foreign Investment Committee. “PKFZ will not be identical to Jebel Ali, but will go as closely as possible,” Chan said.

Chan led a mission to Dubai last week to promote logistics opportunities in Westports and PKFZ in Port Klang. Other members of the mission included Westports executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam, Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Yap Pian Hon, PKA general manager Datin Paduka O. C. Phang and PKFZ managing director Noel Gulliver William. The function was attended by over 400 shipping and maritime industry leaders. Also present was Salma Hareb, chief executive officer of Jafza.

The mission’s aim is to attract investors, manufacturers and shipping liners to come to Port Klang and be a part of PKFZ as well as participate in Malaysia’s halal initiatives in Port Klang and other parts of the country.

The free zone aims to have 500 to 600 companies within seven to 10 years, creating 20,000 to 25,000 jobs in total.

Meanwhile, Jafza’s Salma said the company will sell PKFZ to its over 5,000 existing customers.

“The partnership with PKFZ completes our network around the globe. The customers trust us and we in turn trust our partners to take good care of the customers,” Salma said.

KIRA-KIRA 100 syarikat yang kini beroperasi di Zon Bebas Jebel Ali di Dubai berminat untuk turut beroperasi di Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ), kata Ketua Eksekutif Lembaga Zon Bebas Jebel Ali (JAFZA), Salma Hareb.

“Beberapa pelanggan kami sudah memulakan operasi di PKFZ dan kami sedang berbincang dengan pelanggan di Zon Bebas Jabel Ali dan saya tahu ramai yang amat berminat ke sana (PKFZ).

“Mereka mahu menyaksikan PKFZ direalisasikan,” katanya pada seminar `Peluang Logistik di Pelabuhan Klang’ yang dirasmikan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy di Dubai, Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) baru-baru ini.

Seminar itu dianjurkan Port Klang Malaysia, Westport Malaysia, PKFZ dan Jafza International sempena misi perdagangan bagi menarik penyertaan peserta dan ahli perniagaan, terutama dari kalangan anggota Pertubuhan Negara-Negara Islam (OIC) untuk beroperasi di PKFZ.

Hadir sama Pengerusi Pelabuhan Klang, Datuk Yap Pian Hon dan Pengerusi Eksekutif Westport Malaysia, Tan Sri G Gnanalingam dan Pengarah Urusan PKFZ, Noel Gulliver.

JAFZA, pengendali kawasan perdagangan bebas terbesar dunia, bertanggung jawab menguruskan PKFZ seluas 405 hektar di Pulau Indah bagi tempoh 15 tahun.

PKFZ adalah pelaburan kedua terbesar kerajaan dalam sektor pelabuhan sejak 1990-an dan ia dibangunkan sebagai zon perdagangan bebas dan komersial bersepadu.

PKFZ dijadual dirasmikan hujung bulan ini, manakala pejabat dan gudang dijangka siap akhir tahun ini.

Gulliver berkata, JAFZA yang menguruskan 5,500 syarikat antarabangsa sedang berusaha membawa kejayaan pengurusan zon bebas itu ke PKFZ.

“Semua orang tahu jika anda mahu beroperasi di Asia Barat, Jebel Ali adalah tempatnya dan adalah menjadi matlamat dan sasaran kami untuk menjadikan PKFZ pusat sehenti utama di Asia Tenggara.

“Sesiapa yang hendak ke Asia Tenggara, Pelabuhan Klang bakal menjadi pelabuhan panggilan pertama,” katanya sambil menambah jika 10 peratus daripada syarikat yang beroperasi di Zon Bebas Jabel Ali menjadikan PKFZ sebagai pusat operasi di Asia Tenggara, ia sudah memadai.

Mengenai sama ada PKFZ mampu menjadi seperti JAFZA sebagai pusat sehenti yang berjaya, Gulliver berkata, walaupun kedua-dua negara mempunyai sistem pemerintahan dan pentadbiran berbeza, pihaknya yakin PKFZ mampu menyamai keberkesanan operasi seperti di JAFZA.

“Jika semua proses dokumentasi perkapalan dapat diselesai dalam tempoh dua minit di Jabel Ali, begitu jugalah di PKFZ,” katanya.

Terdahulu, Chan dalam ucapannya menyatakan komitmen kerajaan menyaksikan PKFZ dapat direalisasikan.

“Jika kerajaan perlu menggubal undang-undang untuk mencapai objektif penubuhan PKFZ, kita akan pastikan ia dapat dijalankan,” katanya.

ZON Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ), iaitu pusat pengumpulan dan pengedaran kargo antarabangsa di Pulau Indah akan beroperasi sepenuhnya akhir tahun ini, kata Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

PKFZ seluas 405 hektar itu diuruskan Kawasan Bebas Antarabangsa Jaber Ali (Jafza International), pengendali kawasan perdagangan bebas terbesar dunia di Emiriah Arab Bersat (UAE).

PKFZ adalah pelaburan kedua terbesar kerajaan dalam sektor pelabuhan sejak 1990-an dan ia dibangunkan sebagai zon perdagangan bebas dan komersial bersepadu.

“Jika kita perlu melihat semula aspek tertentu dalam sistem penyampaian antara kerajaan, kita akan laksanakan.

“Malah jika kerajaan perlu menggubal undang-undang untuk mencapai objektif penubuhan PKFZ, kita akan pastikan ia dapat dijalankan,” katanya ketika berucap dalam seminar bertajuk `Peluang- Peluang Logistik di Pelabuhan Klang’ di Dubai semalam.

Seminar itu dianjurkan Port Klang Malaysia, Westport Malaysia, PKFZ dan Jafza International sempena misi perdagangan bagi menarik penyertaan peserta dan ahli perniagaan, terutama dari kalangan anggota Pertubuhan Negara-Negara Islam (OIC) untuk beroperasi di PKFZ.

Hadir sama Pengerusi Pelabuhan Klang, Datuk Yap Pian Hon dan Pengerusi Eksekutif Westport Malaysia, Tan Sri G Gnanalingam.

Chan berkata, beliau yakin PKFZ bakal muncul sebagai `Jafza Malaysia’ dan peneraju zon bebas di Asia Tenggara memandangkan konsepnya yang dibangunkan berdasarkan model Jafza International.

Beliau berkata, kerajaan kini sedang melihat semula dasar baru yang perlu dilaksanakan bagi memastikan operasi PKFZ berdaya maju dan setanding Jafza International.

“Antaranya, kerajaan mengkaji untuk memperkenalkan insentif baru kepada PKFZ yang belum pernah dilaksanakan di Malaysia sebelum ini,” katanya.

Chan berkata, PKFZ bakal menyediakan persekitaran pelaburan menarik bagi sektor pembuatan dan berhasrat menarik penyertaan syarikat multinasional, perusahaan kecil dan sederhana, industri berkaitan perkhidmatan pengagihan, logistik dan nilai tambah.

WESTPORTS Malaysia is bullish about growth and is confident of playing a significant role in the country’s development into the next decade, said its executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam.

He said the port is poised to benefit from the emphasis placed by the Government on the transport industry under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Westports expects growth of containers from 12 million TEUs to 18 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in the next five years. “We are ready to achieve this target,” Gnanalingam told delegates at the Fourth Asean Ports and Shipping 2006 conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

He said Westports has done well by growing to 2.91 million TEUs last year from about 500,000 TEUs eight years ago. Westports, which now handles more than half Port Klang’s cargo, aims to handle 3.5 million TEUs this year.

Gnanalingam optimism was based on Malaysia’s economic competitiveness as the 17th largest trading nation and the seventh largest country for containers in the world. He also noted that Malaysian ports offers the lowest tariffs in the world and the fastest connectivity to other developing and fast growing markets.

For the next decade, Westports will continue to grow by leveraging not only on its world-class facilities and services, but also through the development that is taking shape within its vicinity.

Westports will play the role of logistics enhancer due to its location in the vicinity of the Selangor Halal Hub and the development of the halal hub currently taking shape at the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ).

Both these facilities, located on Pulau Indah, mark a significant development in making the country as a centre for the manufacturing and exporting of halal products. “There’s a great opportunity for Malaysians to spearhead the Halal Hub to serve two billion Muslims with consumption valued at RM500 billion,” he said.

He said that Westports stands to gain by the soon-to-be-opened PKFZ, which will pave the way for the emergence of many industries that will be a boon for the future growth of the port.

Misi itu bertujuan menarik pelabur, pengilang dan syarikat perkapalan untuk datang ke Pelabuhan Klang dan menjadi sebahagian daripada keluarga Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ).

Misi yang di sokong Kementerian Pengangkutan itu juga bertujuan menarik pelabur, pengilang dan syarikat perkapalan menyertai inisiatif Halal Malaysia di Pelabuhan Klang dan di beberapa bahagian lain negara ini.

Menteri Pengangkutan Datuk Sri Chan Kong Choy akan mengetuai misi itu.

Turut serta Pengerusi Lembaga Pelabuhan Klang (PKA), Datuk Yap Pian Hon, Pengerusi Eksekutif Westports Malaysia, Tan Sri G Gnanalingam, Pengurus Besar PKA, Datin Paduka OC Phang dan Pengarah Urusan PKFZ, Encik Noel Gulliver William.

“Objektif misi ini untuk menarik pelabur UAE datang melabur dan menjalankan perniagaan di Malaysia.

“Misi ini juga merangkumi program padanan perniagaan dan ia sudah tentu meningkatkan lagi profil peniaga Malaysia kepada pelabur asing.

“Kami berhasrat membawa 100 ahli perniagaan tempatan untuk mengukuhkan kerjasama perniagaan antara sektor swasta Malaysia dan UAE”, kata Chan.

Beliau berkata, misi itu juga bertujuan meningkatkan perdagangan dua hala antara Malaysia dan UAE.

Antara industri Halal yang berpotensi diceburi anggota delegasi ialah produk makanan seperti tenusu, minuman dan makanan, produk manisan dan sajian makanan selain produk bukan makanan seperti farmaseutikal, herba tambahan, produk penjagaan kulit, kosmetik dan kelengkapan dandanan diri.

Forum Halal Dunia yang diadakan di Kuala Lumpur baru-baru ini merintis jalan bagi Malaysia untuk menjadi Pusat Kecemerlangan Halal.

“Kami mahu membantu ahli perniagaan Malaysia, terutamanya perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) memanfaatkan sepenuhnya potensi pasaran untuk pengeluaran produk halal, makanan dan bukan makanan”, katanya.

Chan berkata, misi Dubai anjuran Westports itu juga bertujuan menambah bilangan dan rangkaian produk yang mendapat pensijilan Halal di pasaran global.

Mengikut perangkaan Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, eksport Malaysia ke Asia Barat bernilai RM1.65 bilion pada Mac 2006, melonjak 51.7 peratus daripada RM1.09 bilion bulan sebelumnya.

Semua pasaran di rantau ini mencatatkan peningkatan dalam eksport dengan UAE, Arab Saudi, Turki, Yaman dan Iran mencatatkan pertumbuhan paling ketara.

Chan dijadualkan berucap kepada 500 pemimpin dan penggiat sektor industri perkapalan dan maritim serta sektor swasta semasa misi di Dubai itu nanti.

Westports turut mengaturkan pemadanan perniagaan bagi membolehkan ahli perniagaan Malaysia yang turut serta, terutamanya PKS Bumiputera, mengambil peluang sepenuhnya daripada pertemuan itu selain meninjau sebarang peluang usaha sama dengan bantuan Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (Matrade).

Westports juga tertarik dengan prospek mendapatkan lebih banyak pengendali syarikat perkapalan Asia Barat singgah di pelabuhannya memandangkan kapasiti semasa pelabuhan itu ialah enam juta TEU (Unit Persamaan Dua Puluh Kaki) serta mempunyai kapasiti pengendalian sehingga 10 juta TEU dalam tempoh lima tahun akan datang.

Peningkatan ketara perdagangan antara Malaysia dan Asia Barat baru-baru ini mencerminkan pertumbuhan kukuh kontena dari syarikat perkapalan Asia Barat seperti United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) dan Simatech Shipping (Simatech) yang semuanya adalah pelanggan utama Westports.

Sementara itu, Westports mempelawa ahli perniagaan Malaysia terutamanya PKS Bumiputera, yang mahu menyertai misi ke Dubai supaya menghubungi talian 03-31694025 untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.

Terletak dalam kawasan seluas 480 hektar di pantai barat Semenanjung Malaysia di Pulau Indah, Westports adalah sebahagian daripada Pelabuhan Klang.

Ia mempunyai sembilan tempat persinggahan kapal kontena dengan dermaga sepanjang tiga kilometer.

Pelabuhan semula jadi itu berhasrat memanjangkan dermaganya sehingga enam kilometer menjelang 2010.

Westports dikendalikan Kelang Multi Terminal Sdn Bhd dan adalah satu daripada lima pelabuhan terbaik dunia dalam produktiviti pemunggahan hingga ke pengagihan.

The aim of this mission is to attract investors, manufacturers and shipping liners to come to Port Klang and be a part of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) as well as participate in Malaysia’s halal initiatives in Port Klang and other parts of the country.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy will lead this mission.

Other members of the mission include Westports executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam, Port Klang Authority (PKA) chairman Datuk Yap Pian Hon, PKA general manager Datin Paduka O. C. Phang and PKFZ managing director Noel Gulliver William.

“The objective of the mission is to attract investors from the United Arab Emirates (the UAE) to invest and do business in Malaysia, particularly in the logistics and halal trade and to enhance bilateral trade between Malaysia and the UAE. Other benefits include raising the profile of the Malaysian participants to foreign investors through business matching programmes.

“We intend to bring about 100 local businessmen to further enhance business collaboration between the private sectors of Malaysia and the UAE,” Chan said in a statement yesterday.

Among the possible halal industries that the delegation will explore are food products such as dairy, food and beverages, confectionary and culinary as well as non-food products such as pharmaceuticals, herbal supplements, leather goods, cosmetics and toiletries.

The recently-held World Halal Forum in Kuala Lumpur paves the way for Malaysia in becoming a “Centre Of Halal Excellence”.

“We want to help Malaysian businessmen especially Bumiputera SMEs realise the full extent of the market potential for halal manufacturers, both food and non-food.

“This Dubai mission is also geared towards growing the numbers and range of halal-certified products on offer in the global market, coming off Malaysian Centres of Halal Excellence,” he said.

“The halal industry is important and it has been identified as the next wave of development for Malaysia’s economy. With our already good infrastructure in place including highways, world-class airport and port, the multimedia corridor, broadband as well as 3G telecommunications facilities, the halal sector gives us a fantastic opportunity to be the capital of halal food trade,” he added.

The upcoming visit to the UAE is also one of the initiatives taken by Malaysia to strengthen economic ties with member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC).

The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) had said Malaysia’s trade with OIC countries has expanded significantly over the last decade.

Malaysia’s total trade with OIC member states increased more than four fold from US$4.1 billion (RM14.88 billion) in 1995 to US$18.4 billion (RM66.79 billion) in 2005.

All the markets in this region recorded increases in exports, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Yemen and Iran registering the most significant growth.

Westports also said it is excited about the prospect of engaging more Middle East main line operators to call at its port.

Currently, Westports’ capacity is 6 million TEUs (20-ft equivalent units) and has the capacity to handle up to 10 million TEUs within the next five years.

The recent surge in trade between Malaysia and Middle East is also exemplified by the strong growth of containers from West Asian Shipping Lines such as UASC, IRISL and Simatech, who are all major customers of Westports.

They view Westports as their favourite port due to the efficiency and productivity that the port provides.

The growth momentum in the container throughput in the period January to March 2006 is expected to continue for the rest of the year, leading to the 3.5 million TEUs projection for the port in 2006.

Last year, Westports’ total volume was 2.91 million TEUs.

Today, Westports handles 22 per cent of the total container volume in the country. More than half of Port Klang’s cargo go through Westports.

The port also notched two world records for productivity in March.

“One month after clinching its latest world record of 421 moves per hour, the Westports operations team did it again when it managed to hit crane productivity of 452 moves in a single hour of operations with an eight-crane deployment on March 9,” said Westports Malaysia executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam in a statement yesterday.

“Though we have just within a month made another milestone achievement, this is only the beginning,” he added.

Today, Westports stands among the top five ports in the world to have achieved such a remarkable rate of productivity.

“With continuous improvement in productivity, we will be able to double our volume from 3 million TEUs to 6 million in the next five years,” said Gnanalingam.

In March this year, Westports also introduced its e-billing, a custom-made system, designed and innovated in-house, to cater to the needs of the port’s customers with the aim of streamlining and improving billing systems.

E-billing is one of the modules that appears in the port’s electronic submission and tracking link – WestportLINK.

Gnanalingam also said Westports stands to gain by the soon-to-be-opened Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), which will pave the way for the emergence of many industries that will be a boon for the future growth of the port.

“This duty free zone and the Government’s continuous backing to attract main line operators and forging alliances with international ports, especially Port Klang, will ensure that Malaysia remains as one of the top 10 countries in terms of handling containers and logistics business.

“Besides the PKFZ, the Halal Hub Centre will be a boon for the growth of Westports as these multimillion ringgit projects will create economic stimulus, especially from new industries that will emerge from PKFZ,” he said.

He added that the recent unveiling of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, which placed importance on the transportation industry, had set the right priorities for seaports for the next five years.

It calls for the growth of containers from 12 million TEUs to 18 million TEUs.

For the next decade, Westports will continue to grow by leveraging not only on its world-class facilities and services, but also through the development that is taking shape within its vicinity.