Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia

Speech by The Honourable Minister of Transport Malaysia,

Dato? Sri Chan Kong Choy

Yg Berhormat Dato' Haji Zainal Abidin bin Haji Zain - Deputy Minister of Defense

Yg Berbahagia General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Azizan bin Ariffin - Chief of Air Force

Yg Berbahagia Dato' Jasbil Singh - Deputy Secretary of Defense

Yg Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato Kamaruzzaman Shariff- Chairman World Aerospace

Sdn Bhd

His Excellency Dato? S. Thanarajasingam ? The Malaysian Ambassador to France

Members of the Organising Committee

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

A very good evening and thank you for being with us here today

I am delighted to be able to say a few words on the upcoming Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 07) to be held on the resort island of Langkawi.

LIMA has been an integral part of the Aerospace and Maritime industry for Malaysia and particularly the South East Asian region.

Over the years, the exhibition has seen an increased not only in size but also in terms of local and international participants.

It augurs well that Malaysia and particularly Malaysian companies are beginning to take an increasingly important and significant role in the region.

Also encouraging is that many international companies that have taken the initiative to set up or joint venture with Malaysian companies in this industry.

French Companies such as EADS Eurocopter have established a regional platform for Sales, Training and MRO facilities in Malaysia. The Shephard?s Group from The UK are working on the strategic development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or UAV's.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Under the 9^th Malaysian Plan, The Government of Malaysia has placed particular emphasis for the defence and aerospace sector. The focus will continue to be in the areas of MRO, Aerospace, Automotive, ICT and the Maritime industry.

There is an emphasis in the areas of Research and Development including strategic development in the UAV, Space and Satellite sector. You may also like to note that the first Malaysian astronaut is undergoing training and is scheduled to make a maiden trip into Space later this year.

Malaysia has designated Subang as an Aerospace Park for the country. With this, we hope to attract foreign direct investments into the country. The aerospace sector is an integral part of Malaysia?s fast growing industry sector. I am glad to announce the success of international companies, the likes of Eurocopter in Terminal 2, Subang.

Eurocopter Malaysia has been in operation in Subang since 2003 and has now 120 people working in the facility. Adjacent to this facility is the Turbomecca facility. This proves the robust MRO sector in the region and international aerospace companies have identified M alaysia as a sound destination for investment.

The LIMA exhibition plays an important role in line with the Government of Malaysia?s vision of becoming the Hub of MRO and a centre for General Aviation in the region.

Since its inception in 1991, LIMA has been viewed as the catalyst for the aerospace and defense industry. In 1997, Malaysia?s aerospace blueprint was launched and we are now into a decade into our blueprint, and I am proud to say that Malaysia has developed her capabilities and industries over this period..

I believe the organiser, World Aeropspace is committed and determined to deliver a successful LIMA 07. I am confident that the exhibition will prove to be the best in its series and will also showcase the latest in Defence and MRO capabilities.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

This year also marks our 50^th year celebration of National Independence and LIMA 07 will be the perfect opportunity for you to visit the beautiful island of Langkawi. I look forward to extending a warm Malaysian welcome to all of you during this Visit Malaysia 2007 Year

Terima Kasih, Thank you and have a pleasant evening.

____________________________________________________________________

WELCOME SPEECH

BY THE CHAIRMAN OF WORLD AEROSPACE SDN BHD

TAN SRI DATO? KAMARUZZAMAN SHARIFF

HIS EXCELLENCY DATO? SRI CHAN KONG CHOY

THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT MALAYSIA

HIS EXCELLENCY DATO' HAJI ZAINAL ABIDIN BIN HAJI ZAIN ?

THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENCE

HIS EXCELLENCY DATO? S. THANARAJASINGAM - THE MALAYSIAN AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE

GENERAL TAN SRI DATO' SRI AZIZAN BIN ARIFFIN - CHIEF OF THE ROYAL MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE

DATO' JASBIL SINGH - DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL, THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

EXCELLENCIES

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS

MEMBERS OF THE PRESS

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

I BID YOU ALL A VERY GOOD EVENING

I AM INDEED DEEPLY HONOURED TO WELCOME THE MALAYSIAN MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, HIS EXCELLENCY DATO? SRI CHAN KONG CHOY, TO THIS RECEPTION AND TO EXPRESS OUR UTMOST GRATITUDE TO HIM FOR THE HONOUR TO HOST THE EVENING. THE HONOURABLE MINISTER ALSO LEADS THE MALAYSIAN DELEGATION WHICH COMPRISES AMONGST OTHERS THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY MINISTER OF DEFENCE, THE CHIEF OF THE ROYAL MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE AND THE DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE.

I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE SO MANY OF OUR GUESTS HERE THIS EVENING, WHOM TO MY MIND, IS AN INDICATION OF YOUR SUPPORT NOT ONLY TO THE LANGKAWI INTERNATIONAL MARITIME AND AEROSPACE EXHIBITION 2007 (LIMA ?07), BUT ALSO TO MALAYSIA AS A NATION. ON BEHALF OF WORLD AEROSPACE SDN BHD, THE APPOINTED ORGANISER OF THE AEROSPACE COMPONENT OF LIMA (THE LANGKAWI AIRSHOW) BY THE GOVERNMENT MALAYSIA, I WISH TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING TIME OFF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES TO BE HERE WITH US TODAY.

YOU MAY HAVE BEEN AWARE THAT LIMA ?07 WILL BE THE NINTH EXHIBITION IN THE SERIES, SINCE ITS INCEPTION 15 YEARS AGO. THIS YEAR LIMA WILL BE HELD FROM THE 4^TH TO THE 8^TH DECEMBER IN THE BEAUTIFULRESORT ISLANDOF LANGKAWI. LIMA?07 WILLSEE AVAST IMPROVEMENT IN TERMS OFFACILITIES AND ORGANISATION. THE NEWLY RENOVATEDAND MUCH IMPROVED MAHSURI INTERNATIONALEXHIBITION CENTRE NOW ALLOWS US 30,000 SQUARE METERS OF VALUABLE SPACE WHICH WILL GIVE THE ORGANISEERS THE OPPORTUNITY TOACCOMMODATEPAVILLION, CATERING TO RECENT AREAS OF INTEREST AND EMPHASIS FROM THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION, SUCH AS AEROSSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES GENERAL AND CIVIL AVIATION, AIRPORT AND AIRFIELD SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES, MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OVERHAUL FACILITIES AND NETWORK-CENTRIC TECHNOLOGIES.

YOU MAY WISH TO BEINFORMED THAT CURRENTLY, THE ROYAL MALYSIAN AIRFORCE IS EMBARKING ON A PROGRAMME TO ENHANCE ITS CAPABILITIES AND AN INCREASE OF ITS ASSETS, AS SEEN WITH THE RECENT PURCHASE AND SOON TO ARRIVE, OF THE SUKHOI FIGHTER JETS. IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR, WE SEE A SHIFT TOWARDS THE OWNERSHIP OF EXECUTIVE AIRCRAFT, AND IN THE AIRLINES WE SEE AN INCRESING NUMBERS OF AIRCRAFT ENTERING THEIR SERVICES.

OVER THE YEARS, THE EVENT HAS INCREASINGLY EMERGED AS A FOCAL POINT FOR MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE AEROSPACE, MARITIME AND DEFENCE INDUSTRIES IN VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY, IT HAS ATTRACTED THE ATTENTION OF NATIONAL LEADERS, SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS AND THE MEDIA. IT HAS SINCE FEATURED IN THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS OF AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES THE WORLD OVER.

EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION IS UNDERGOING UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH IN DEFENCE, AND IN PARTICULAR THE AVIATION SECTOR ? WITH BUDGETS IN MANY COUNTRIES CONTINUING TO RISE WITH EVER INDREASING LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION IN AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES. LIMA?07, THEREFORE, REPRESENTS A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY AND AN IMPORTANT CONDUIT INTO THIS MARKETS FOR THE GLOBAL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES. AS SUCH, FOR THOSE OF YOU PRESENT WHO HAVE YET TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS, I URGE YOU TO ACT ? AND ACT FAST. OUR REPRESENTAIVES WILL ONLY BE TOO HAPPY TO ANSWER ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN, AND OF COURSE TO TAKE YOUR BOOKINGS.

THE LANGKAWI AIRSHOW ?07 WILL, THEREFORE, BE ANOTHER SPECTACULAR INDUSTRY EXHIBITION SHOWCASING THE LATEST IN AVIATION AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY IN FRONT OF AN INFORMED AND FOCUSED REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT IT IS ALSO AN EXTRAORDINARY PROMOTIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY THAT PROMISES TO BE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL TO PARTICIPANTS AND AUDIENCE ALIKE.

WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE MALAYSIAN INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT GROUP FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY, WE WILL BE FACILITATING BUSINESS MATCHMAKING FOR BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND TRADE DELEGATES. THE EXHIBITION WILL BE A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE MARKET VISIBILITY, ESTABLISH NEW BUSINESS LIAISONS AND STRENGTHEN EXISTING ONES. WITH THE PRESENCE OF KEY DECISION MAKERS IN THE AEROSPACE, MARITIME AND DEFENCE SECTORS FROM THE REGION, IT WOULD BE AN IDEAL TIME TO SEEK OUT AND CULTIVATE NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND POTENTIAL JOINT VENTURES.

EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANISERS, I ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE THIS YEAR?S LANGKAWI AIRSHOW A SUCCESSFUL ONE AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH OUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A SPLENDID AND WONDERFUL SHOW.

I WELCOME YOU TO LIMA?007 AND THE RESORT ISLAND OF LANGKAWI,.

THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND HAVE A PLEASANT EVENING.

TERIMA KASIH, THANK YOU, MERCI BEACOUP.

LIMA 2007 AEROSPACE RECEPTION IN PARIS

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