Thai firms voices confidence to invest in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur - Thailand's largest retail developer said that it has confidence to invest in Malaysia, citing the stable political situation and the just-elected government's majority support in Parliament.

Central Pattana Plc CEO Kobchai Chirathivat told local reporter on Monday that Malaysia is politically stable with its economy managed conservatively with stable interest rates for the last 10 years compared to other countries in the region.

Central Pattana signed a joint-venture agreement with Malaysia' s I-Bhd company on Monday. it will incorporate two local subsidiaries - CPN Real Estate Sdn Bhd and CPN Malls Malaysia Sdn Bhd - to hold 60 percent in the joint venture with the remaining 40 percent to be held by i-City Properties Sdn Bhd, a fully-owned subsidiary of I-Bhd, to build a shopping mall in i-City.

Chirativat said business risks are lower here with Malaysian customers' behaviour much more advanced than their Thai counterparts.

He said the project is strategically located and well connected to Kuala Lumpur with several highway networks, and its location near an industrial park provides a pool of potential customers, while strong partners like I-Bhd will pull crowds to the area through its leisure hot spots like City of Lights, Water Theme Park and Snow-Walk.

Chirativat said they really had a strong belief in the economy of Malaysia which is growing at 5 to 6 percent each year.