Dr M sees prospects of deals in aerospace, oil and gas, cotton

Dr Mahathir Mohamad with Turkenistan president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on Sunday. (Bernama pic)

ASHGABAT (Turkmenistan): Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says there are prospects of further cooperation between Malaysia and Turkmenistan in aerospace, the oil and gas industry and in cotton.

Mahathir, who is on a two-day official visit to Turkmenistan beginning today, said Malaysia had now moved from a country involved in the automotive to aerospace industry.

“Malaysia’s industry has now taken advantage of the chain of supply for other industries…sophisticated industry. We are now going from automotive to aerospace industry. We are involved in a lot of engineering works for aerospace.

“This also we can exchange because the aerospace industry needs a very big supply chain. An aircraft engine has about 30,000 parts and the parts can’t be manufactured by the country producing the engine.

“They have to source the parts from elsewhere and this gives many countries a chance to go into this country at the level of manufacturing the components. So we would like to see how to work with Turkmenistan in that area,” he said in a joint press statement at the end of meetings with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the Presidential Palace here on Sunday.

Mahathir hoped that Petronas would continue to be actively involved in oil and gas exploration works in Turkmenistan, which has the 4th largest reserves of natural gas in the world.

Petronas obtained a 32-year Production Sharing Contract licence in 1996 for exploration and production of oil and gas in the Block-1 offshore area in the Caspian Sea.

Turkmenistan has proven natural gas reserves estimated at 20 trillion cubic metres, but the number could be higher as much of its natural gas deposits have not been explored.

“We are also looking for new cooperation. Turkmenistan is producing a lot of cotton, and Malaysia would like to look into the industry. This is something not promoted in Malaysia in the past,” Mahathir said.

Mahathir also gave an assurance that Turkmenistan students who are studying in Malaysia would not be exposed to the wrong kind of culture like in some other countries.

He said the students could also serve as bridges in strengthening relationships between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Berdimuhamedov said the partnership with Malaysia is important, describing Malaysia as a friendly nation.

“We will continue to develop our bilateral ties. Tun Mahathir, since our early days of independence, has contributed enormously to our development. We extend our gratitude for his contribution and to their friendly nation,” he added. - FMT