BY Massita Ahmad

AMSTERDAM, March 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) -- A Malaysian trade and investment mission to the Netherlands this week is confident of attracting investors to Malaysia, with a number of reciprocal visits expected as early as next week, says International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, who is leading the mission.

The interest of new Dutch investors was very high, as they knew the strength of Malaysia's economy, he said here Tuesday, adding: "They will be making a series of vists to Malaysia almost every month."

Mustapa is leading a 50-member Malaysian delegation on a eight-day visit to Amsterdam, Hamburg (Germany) and Birmingham (Britain, beginning last Saturday.

"Our visit has been much welcomed as a similar mission was last here two years ago," he said. According to Mustapa, a visit by Dutch entrepreneurs to Malaysia in the third quarter of the year had been planned to expose them to investment opportunities in the country.

The visit is being planned in co-operation with the Malaysian-Dutch Business Council.

Within the European Union (EU), Holland was Malaysia's second largest trading partner last year, with total trade amounting to 6.2 billion USD or 19.8 per cent of the total trade with the bloc. Up to end-2009, Dutch companies had undertaken 163 projects with investments of 4.0 billion USD in Malaysia.

The main investment sector was petroleum and petrochemical products, electrical and electronic products, chemical and chemical products, food products and natural gas.

Mustapa stressed that what was important following the discussions held here was the follow-up action, and he hoped the potential investments secured would become a reality within this year.

Earlier, a seminar on "Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Services Sector in Malaysia", was held with a follow-up business matching session with the 115 potential Dutch investors in attendance.

Mustapa said arising from the session, a total of 215 million Ringgit (one USD = about 3.4 Ringgit) in potential investments had been secured, in sectors such as renewable energy, information communication technology (ICT) and machinery and appliances.

He disclosed that a company which had already invested in bunkering facilities at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in the southern Malaysian state of Johor in co-operation with MISC Berhad, Malaysia's biggest shippine line, was also planning to increase its investment.

Present at the seminar were representatives from some of the top names in the Dutch corporate world, including Shell, ING, Dutch Lady and Philips, all of which are already operating in Malaysia. -- NNN-BERNAMA