KL trade mission to visit U.S.

KL trade mission to visit U.S.

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's minister for international trade and industry will lead a trade and investment mission to the United States and Canada from Feb. 7 to Feb. 16, the national news agency Bernama reported.

Rafidah Aziz said Sunday that the delegation would include representatives from government agencies and private sector looking for investors in information technology and electronics.

Since the Asian economic crisis of 1997-98, the government has struggled to encourage a return of foreign investment, and the United States is Malaysia's biggest trading partner.

Electronic products and components are Malaysia's biggest export. Between January and November 2000, the sector accounted for 58.8 percent of Malaysia's total exports of 343.1 billion ringgit (US$90.3 billion).

Operational costs, which were higher in Malaysia than in neighboring countries like Thailand and Indonesia, have been making it increasingly difficult for these products to remain competitive.