YEMEN - Around 160 Malaysian businesspersons will participate in the Yemeni Malaysian festival that will be held in Sana’a during the 17th-20th of March, said Salah al-Attar - Chairman of the General Investment Authority (GIA)

Al-Attar added in a press conference held in Sana'a on Sunday - that the Malaysian businesspersons will be looking for investment opportunities in Yemen, during their participation in the festival, among of theme (80) participants from Malaysian companies will showcase their products during the festival, while (80) other businesspersons Malaysian.

Al-Attar said that the festival is very important, as around 80 Malaysian companies would demonstrate their products and services.

“The Malaysian delegation will visit the provinces of Aden and Lahj for catch sight of the investment opportunities available in the free zone in Aden and industrial zone in Lahj and the possibility of implementing investment projects in two regions, al-Attar said.

Al-Attar said that the festival would be a chance to increase commercial exchange between the two countries. He added that the authority would hold a similar festival in Malaysia.

He pointed out that the delegation of Malaysian businesspersons would visit investment opportunities, different authorities and ministries in order to identify all the facilities offered by the Government of Yemen to create a secure investment environment.

He explained that the idea of organizing the festival came after the Mukalla Industry Conference in 2008, which constituted a quantum leap to promote investment and economic cooperation between the two countries.

He said the festival is one of the most important events prepared by GIA with cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Yemen, Malaysia and the chambers of industry in two countries, calling in the Yemeni private sector to participate in the festival.

For his part, Malaysian Ambassador to Sana'a - Abdul Samad Othman – stressing the importance of Yemeni investors visits to Malaysia to exchange experiences between the two countries and create partnerships between the two countries. Considering the forthcoming festival, the largest trade Malaysia event held in Yemen.

For his part, the Malaysian ambassador to Sana'a valued efforts of the authority to organize for the festival, saying that the festival is biggest trade event organized by Malaysia in Yemen to enhance trade relations between the two countries.

"The festival is coming to strengthen mutual relations between the two countries especially in trade and investment,” the Ambassador said, Pointing out that the attention of Malaysian investors focused on the sectors of tourism, industrial and promising real estate in Yemen.

He added that during the festival a lot of different products that are characterized by Malaysia as well as education and health services will offer.

He pointed to the importance of deliver Yemeni products provides access to Malaysia.

Mountaha Ali Mouthana said that GIA is making great efforts to mobilize a similar number of businesspersons to do Yemenis agree to hold hearings during the festival between the two sides to forge partnerships and trade agreements, industrial and investment multiple.