KUALA LUMPUR: The armed forces pension fund (LTAT) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the EDGE Group, a conglomerate of 25 companies owned by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government that provides military weaponry and related technology.
Defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the MoU was signed by LTAT CEO Ahmad Nazim Abd Rahman and the EDGE Group managing director and CEO Mansour Mohamed Al Mulla.
The MoU covers the exploration of opportunities for closer collaboration between LTAT and the EDGE Group in supporting various forms of defence capabilities and solutions as well as identifying potential joint investments in the strategic and defence industries in Malaysia.
“Representing the Malaysian government, I am proud and amazed to see the determination of the UAE government to develop its defence industry to a very encouraging level.
“The signing of the MoU has made my official visit to the UAE very meaningful due to the strong commitment of the Malaysian-UAE governments to empower the Malaysian defence industry,” he said in a statement today.
The MoU was signed when Hishammuddin and the Malaysian delegation visited the EDGE Group headquarters. They also visited the Tawazun Industrial Park, Zayed Military City, in Abu Dhabi, where local and international defence-related companies develop their products.
Hishammuddin said the second day of the visit today focused specifically on Malaysia-UAE joint ventures to strengthen the defence industry.
“This is following the agreement reached during my meeting with the UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE minister of state for defence affairs Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi yesterday.
“This visit gives Malaysia a chance to learn the UAE’s approach to driving their defence industry, especially through the Tawazun Industrial Park,” he said.
Hishammuddin said it was important and in line with the Malaysian government’s plans considering that the national defence and security industry policy was a follow-up initiative to the defence white paper, which is currently being drafted.
Hishammuddin said one of the main thrusts of the policy is to create a defence industrial zone with the same concept as the Tawazun Industrial Park, which is an industrial zone established to help further develop the UAE’s industrial capabilities, especially in providing a manufacturing base for defence-related products and industries.
“The Malaysian delegation and I also spent time visiting several local defence companies including NIMR, a manufacturer of armoured military vehicles; and Caracal, a manufacturer of pistols, rifles and sniper weapons,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the close relationship between Malaysia and UAE, and close cooperation at the level of ministers, ministries and the armed forces would be fully utilised to further strengthen Malaysia’s defence industry. - FMT
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