KUALA
LUMPUR, August 12 (IslamOnline.net) - In another bid to depart from
traditional western sources for business and trade, Malaysia’s Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad urged the country’s private sector to be
more aggressive in establishing profitable and direct trade ties with
Algeria, Bernama news agency reported Tuesday, August 12.
Malaysia
has since the war on Iraq decided to move its business and trade
interests away from the U.S., Britain and Australia for sponsoring an
anti-Muslim platform.
Mahathir
said last year’s trade figures of 100 million U.S. dollars between
his country and Algeria were marginal and did not reflect the true
potential of both countries.
"Direct
trading should be encouraged rather than through a third
country," he said at a state dinner hosted by Algerian President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika at Palais de la Culture in Algiers late Monday,
August 11.
In
Algiers, Mahathir said the potential sectors for further cooperation
included information and communications technology, a field where
Malaysia was sufficiently dominant, construction, education and
tourism.
He
noted that both countries' national oil companies, Petronas and
Sonatrach, already maintain bilateral cooperation, adding that
Malaysia was ready to share its experience with Algeria in developing
and managing its economy.
"To
achieve economic development is not easy. Malaysia's own experience is
not rosy. There are bound to be difficulties but these are not
overwhelming.
"Hard
work, determination and proper planning and determined execution are
keys to achieve economic development," said Mahathir, who is
credited for turning the agriculture based economy of his country into
a fast track one that is nearing its objective of turning the country
into a fully developed nation soon.
The
premier added that he hoped Algeria would benefit from a study
undertaken by Malaysia's experts on the diversification of its
economy.
Relations
between Malaysia and Algeria, he said, had improved by leaps and
bounds based on mutual respect and understanding.
"People-to-people
contact is equally important and should be encouraged," he said,
adding that the news exchange agreement to be signed between Bernama
and Algerie Presse Service would help to generate better
understanding.
Mahathir
said Algeria had tremendous potential in terms of its natural wealth
and well-educated young people.
He
also praised the country’s economic reforms which, he stressed,
showed it was determined to improve the well-being of the Algerian
people.
Algeria's
negotiations to join the World Trade Organization and successful
conclusion of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with the EU
sent a clear message of Algeria's potential, the Malaysian premier
said.
"The
future of Algeria is very bright," he said with impressments.
"Muslim
countries must unite to defend our image. The perception of Islam as a
religion that promotes acts of terror should be corrected.
"Both
Malaysia and Algeria share a common position in the fight against
terrorism," asserted the prime minister.
The
premier, who arrived in Algiers on Sunday, is leading a 127-member
delegation comprising senior ministers and businessmen aimed at
building a strong partnership with the northern African nation.
Earlier
in Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir reiterated his interest in bridging strong
economic ties with Muslim nations, something which he said was a
principle issue for Muslims if they wanted to escape the yoke of
colonialism after fighting hard to gain independence.
