Evans supports growth triangle

Evans supports growth triangle

PENANG, Malaysia (AFP): Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans Saturday voiced support for a growth triangle linking Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, saying he expected Canberra's private sector to participate actively in the area.

"We believe the triangle would attract new commercial and trade investment from Australia and such regional cooperation would open new investment activities," Evans told reporters.

The Australian minister, who is on a four-day visit to Malaysia, was speaking at the northern resort island of Penang, where he was making a day's stopover to view local businesses.

Penang, one of Malaysia's main industrial states, is in the heart of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle, launched in July 1993 to enhance business ties among the three countries.

Malaysia's economic adviser to the government Daim Zainuddin said last year Australia had applied to become the fourth partner in the growth triangle but the request could not be met as the country was geographically alienated from the area.

Evans, however, said he viewed Penang as a dynamic part of Malaysia and that Australians could participate in the growth triangle by investing in the state.

Evans leaves for Bangkok today for a brief stopover before flying home.