Malaysian companies are eying the opportunities in the country’s infrastructure sector with accent on roads, real estate, mono rail projects and maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) business in the aviation sector.
Scomi, a monorail services company based in Malaysia has executed its first project in Mumbai and is now in talks with few other cities, including Kolkata exploring the potential to offer its services, Mustapa Mohamed, Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industries, said.
During his visit to Hyderabad, part of a delegation he is leading to India, he interacted with companies for potential areas of cooperation and said they see immense scope to expand business and trade ties.
“A Malaysian company has set up MRO facilities in partnership with GMR in Hyderabad and is set to expand its presence serving the aviation sector. The MRO operations in Malaysia are rated among the third biggest in the world. The growing opportunity in India will offer immense scope to expand business,” the Minister said.
The little known monorail company Scomi has made quick inroads. It has bagged two of three monorail projects on offer in Brazil, where Olympics and FIFA Football World Cup are to be hosted. It outbid Bombardier, he explained.
Several cities in India, including Kolkata, who are evaluating the possibility of setting up a monorail network, are in discussions having seen the work in Mumbai.
The Malaysian companies have partnered Indian companies to develop over 1000 km of road network and through IJM Infrastructure have completed township projects in Hyderabad. With the Indian Government’s objective of developing about 20 km of road network per day, there will be more opportunities to collaborate, he said.
Asked about the possibility of Proton car unit reviving its pans to enter India, the Minister said its ownership has changed. It was a State-owned company and the management has been taken over by a private company. It is for them to decide their plans, he said.
“Large companies like Reliance and Ballarpur have made acquisitions in Malaysia. We are open to investment opportunities in Indian companies. However, we believe small and medium sized industries have immense opportunities to use Malaysia as a base for business in ASEAN,” he said.
rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in