Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz

Thursday, May 5, 2005
The Star Online
  
Pakistan PM Shaukat Aziz
 
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)--Pakistan's prime minister began a three-day visit Thursday aimed at expanding economic ties, following a deal between the two countries on supplying Pakistani workers for Malaysia.
 
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was scheduled to hold talks with his Malaysian counterpart Abdullah Ahmad Badawi later Thursday, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said.
 
The visit comes as "Malaysian companies are actively pursuing investments in Pakistan in the fields of oil and gas,telecommunications, infrastructure developments and Islamic banking," the statement said.
 
Bilateral relations were boosted by a recent deal under which Pakistan will send 100,000 workers to Malaysia to fill a shortfall caused by the departure and expulsion of thousands of illegal Indonesian workers from Malaysia.
 
The Indonesians were supposed to return after legalising themselves but bureaucratic hurdles have held them back.
 
In the meantime, Pakistan stepped in, and has assured Malaysia that only genuine workers would be sent. But Pakistan is looking beyond labour supply in its relations with Malaysia. During his visit, Prime Minister Aziz is expected to make a pitch for Malaysian investments at a forum to be attended by key business leaders and senior government officials on Friday.
 
Pakistan has emerged as Malaysia's second biggest trading partner in South Asia. Bilateral trade between the two countries totals about US$712 million (euro 593 million) each year, with the balance of trade--amounting to US$623 million (euro519 million)--in Malaysia's favour.
 
Malaysian exports include palm oil, electronics items and rubber, and Pakistan exports mostly rice and textiles. Malaysia and Pakistan have also agreed to start talks on reduced trade tariffs that could eventually lead to a free trade agreement. Aziz will also visit Brunei, Singapore and Thailand before returning to Islamabad. - AP