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Malaysia eyes more Indian infrastructure projects
Malaysia is keen to be India's partner in development and is actively seeking participation in various infrastructure projects, says Malaysian Works Minister.
Malaysia is keen to be India's partner in development and is actively seeking participation in various infrastructure projects, like road construction, says Malaysian long-time Works Minister S Samy Vellu.
"India is a country with vast opportunity and Malaysia wants to be part of its development scheme. In addition, given India's IT skill and expertise, we want to learn from it. Tourism and cultural exchange is another area we are keen to cooperate in," Vellu told IANS during a visit to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
Vellu, the leader of the Malaysian Indian Congress that is a partner in the country's ruling coalition, had led one of the biggest delegations to the three-day meet of global Indians.
Malaysia, with 2.3 million people of Indian origin, has one of the largest populations of Indian origin people in the world.
"The event provided a lot of opportunity for us to understand about India. We brought a big contingent so that we could sit in the various committees and forums to understand the future of India and how we can participate in the development here and benefit from India's experience," said Vellu, who attended the first Pravasi Divas as well.
Next year the minister plans to bring an even bigger delegation than the 80-plus this year.
Malaysian companies have been engaged in road projects in India like the Jaipur-Gurgaon highway, the Tada-Nellore and Nandigama-Vijayawada highways and a part of the Pune-Mumbai highway besides two highway projects in Kolkata.
"India is a good paymaster and has a transparent system of tendering for projects. India is genuine in providing opportunity for work. Our working relations are very good. Except one project, we have got all the projects through competitive tenders," said Vellu.
"Given our experience and proven good work, we would like to participate in a big way in India's Golden Quadrilateral (national highway project) and other highway projects."
Malaysia is keenly waiting for the Indian Government to open up the housing sector for overseas participation and in particular "waiting for opening of the urban housing sector".
During the visit, the Malaysian minister had a meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and officials to discuss the proposal of building a peripheral road connecting Haryana to the national Capital.
The 130-km stretch from Kundli to Manesar in Haryana is expected to serve as an outer ring road to the national capital region, said the minister.
"At the meeting it was decided that we would submit a preliminary study of the project in two months' time," said Vellu.
Under a memorandum of understanding with Kerala, Malaysia has become a partner country and would be helping it with various infrastructure projects aimed at promoting tourism.
Vellu, whose family hailed from Tamil Nadu and now has links with Kerala, sees great potential for Kerala, with its 650 km long coastline.
He said Kerala could attract tourists and becoming another Malaysia, which gets over 13 million tourists annually.
Malaysia has already submitted the final bids with costs to build a 60-km Sabarimala Road from Pampa, the base of Sabarimala pilgrim centre in Kerala.
"We have got the Kerala cabinet's approval and are awaiting the final bid approval for the project, expected to cost over Rs 100 million. It would involve widening the road and setting up new facilities en route," said Vellu.
"We have also indicated our interest in the North-South Expressway planned by the Kerala government, and whenever they announce we would be submitting our bid."
The minister said among the other projects Malaysia was keen to undertake in India was one aimed at providing water supply in Tamil Nadu.
On the status of the proposed Asian Highway from Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand-Myanmar-Bangladesh to Kolkata in India, the minister said: "As far as Malaysia is concerned, our part of the stretch has been complete for the last 12 years.
"Some of the other countries have also undertaken part of the stretch. If Myanmar completes and opens the road, we will be travelling to India by cars and not come by air," said the minister.
