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.