Abu Dhabi to invest billions in Malaysia
2013-03-13 15:14:20
Abu Dhabi struck deals worth billions of dollars with Malaysia yesterday, a state-owned company announced, as Kuala Lumpur seeks investment to boost the economy before polls due by June.
The deals were announced after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak met UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahayan in the administrative capital of Putrajaya, just outside Kuala Lumpur
Abu Dhabi agreed to set up a $6.76bn storage facility in Johor state in southern Malaysia, state-run 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) said in a statement. The facility will be able to store 60 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum and is for Abu Dhabi’s sole use, said the company. Abu Dhabi’s investment arm will also set up a $5.79bn investment fund with 1MDB, as well as support a financial district 1MDB is developing in Kuala Lumpur, becoming its “first major multinational anchor investor”, the company said.
Najib, who is facing what are expected to be his coalition’s toughest elections ever against a resurgent opposition, has sought foreign investment as part of his aim for Malaysia to achieve “developed-nation” status by 2020.