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14/05

PRESS RELEASE

Working Visit of the Hon. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Hj. Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Malaysia to France from 9 to 13 June 2005.

The Hon. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Hj. Abdul Razak, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Malaysia completed his five-day working visit to France on Monday, 13 June 2005.

The Deputy Prime Minister attended the 46th International Paris Air and Space Show at Le Bourget, at the invitation of his French counterpart, Madam Michele Alliot-Marie. The Deputy Prime Minister accompanied by the Hon. Dato’ Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport attended the opening ceremony officiated by President Jacques Chirac. Among members of the Malaysian delegation who attended the Air Show and the flight demonstration were H.E. Dato’Hamidah Mohd Yusoff, Ambassador of Malaysia to France; Gen. Datuk Seri Nik Ismail Nik Mohamed, Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force and Admiral Dato’ Ilyas Hj. Din, Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

At the Air Show, the Deputy Prime Minister visited several stands belonging to French companies such as EADS, Eurocopter, Sagem, Alcatel, Airbus, Dassault Aviation and Thales. The Deputy Prime Minister met with the Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, Mr. Charles Edelstenne and had a breakfast meeting with the Chairman and CEO of THALES, Mr. Jean-Paul Perrier. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib also had a working lunch with Mr. Jean-Paul Gut, CEO of EADS International.

The Hon. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib then called upon his French counterpart, Madam Michelle Alliot-Marie in her office at Hotel de Brienne, the French Ministry of Defence.

After the meeting with the French Minister of Defence, the Deputy Prime Minister graced the launching of the Malaysian Pavillion at the Paris Air Show. The Malaysian Pavillion which showcased Malaysia’s technological know-how in aviation and aerospace industries was also set up to promote the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition scheduled from December 6 to 11 this year in Langkawi. Seven Malaysian companies also participated in the exhibition. These include Airod Sdn Bhd; Sapura Defence Sdn Bhd; Zetro Aerospace Corporation Sdn Bhd; Composites Technology Research Malaysia (CTRM) Sdn Bhd; SME Aerospace Sdn Bhd; Satang Jaya Holdings Bhd and Le Proton LIMA Sdn Bhd.

At the Malaysian Pavilion, The Hon. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib also witnessed the signing of four Memoranda of Understandings (MOU’s) between several Malaysian companies and International corporations.

CTRM (Composites technology Research Malaysia) through its subsidiary CTRM AeroComposites, signed a RM800 million agreement with BAE Systems Aerostructure to extend the manufacturing of A320 structural wing components. Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Thales also signed an MOU to set up an A380 In-flight Entertainment Repair and Support Center in Subang, Selangor. Air Asia signed a contract with CFM International worth RM2 billion for the purchase of CFM56 -5b6/p engines for 60 Airbus aircrafts, SME Aerospace Sdn. Bhd (SMEA) won a RM290 million contract from BAE systems to manufacture Airbus and Boeing aircraft parts.

Other than the Paris Air Show, the Deputy Prime Minister also met with the French business community and members of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP) at the Palais de Congrès de Paris on Thursday, 9 June 2005. At the working luncheon, the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister outlined the business opportunities in Malaysia and encouraged French companies to participate in the development of Malaysia’s biotechnology sector, in the halal food industry as well as in the venture of Islamic banking and finance.

On the same day, The Hon. Dato’ Sri Najib met with several French officials who called on him at the Ritz Hotel before departing for a dinner hosted by H.E Ambassador Dato’ Hamidah Mohd. Yusoff and Encik Abdul Rahman Zabidin. The dinner held at Rumah Malaysia was also attended by YABhg. Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor and about 100 guests comprising of several French guests, the Deputy Prime Minister’s delegation, the Malaysian media and Embassy officials.

The Deputy Prime Minister who is also Defence Minister visited the Malaysian Submarine School at the DCN Dockyard in Brest about 500km from Paris and the Scorpene submarine project at the DCN submarine plant in Cherbourg on Friday, 10 June 2005. Cherbourg is located 200 km from Brest.

In Brest, the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister met with 70 Royal Malaysian Navy submariner trainees who are undergoing a four-year training programme following the purchase of two Scorpene submarines by the Malaysian government.

The Hon. Deputy Premier then flew to Cherbourg where he visited the DCN Dockyard in Cherbourg, where the construction of the two submarines are entering 35 percent stage of completion. He also met with the 114 strong Malaysian community in Cherbourg.

The Deputy Prime Minister also met with the Malaysian community in Paris at a reception held at the Hotel Le Grand Intercontinental on Sunday, 12 June 2005. Also present at the reception were Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Deputy Prime Minister; the Hon. Dato’ Sri Chan Kong Choy, Minister of Transport and H.E Dato’ Hamidah Mohd. Yusoff, Ambassador of Malaysia to France.

In his speech, the Deputy Prime Minister called for more serious initiatives to enhance Malaysia’s image in France. He also called on more efforts to be made to increase French tourist arrival to Malaysia. Malaysia, he added, was considered as a preferred choice for investment by the French investors. To Malaysia, France is an important and strategic partner. The Deputy Prime Minister also spoke on the economic, political and social developments in Malaysia to the 100 Malaysians who were present at the reception.

The Deputy Prime Minister left Paris on Monday, 13 June 2005.

Attached Photos: i) H.E. Ambassador Dato’ Hamidah Yusoff delivering the welcoming address at the reception with the Malaysian community held at the Salon Opera of the Hotel Le Grand Intercontinental Paris

ii)The Deputy Prime Minister with Malaysian students

Halida Nauleau
Information Assistant
Embassy of Malaysia,Paris
14 June 2005