Damion Mitchell, News Coordinator - Radio
Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (left), listens to Trevor Jackson (second right), managing director of TransJamaican Highway, in the presence of Jean-Noel Foulard (second left), director of Bougues Travaux Publics, and Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Housing, Transport and Works, at the Portmore toll booth, during a tour of sections of Highway 2000 in St. Catherine yesterday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MALAYSIAN PRIME Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has disclosed that his administration is advancing negotiations with Jamaica for the construction of the Montego Bay Toll Road in St. James.
At the same time, he is pledging to further deepen bilateral ties between Jamaica and Malaysia.
Responding to questions from the Gleaner/Power 106 News yesterday, Prime Minister Abdullah said given the stage of the discussions regarding the Montego Bay Bypass, which will attract a toll charge, he could not provide many details, but expressed confidence that the venture would progress.
"It's a good project, everything will be worked out that it can be pursued," he said at a luncheon hosted by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica in New Kingston yesterday afternoon.
Earlier, Prime Minister Abdullah and his Malaysian delegation, including the country's Minister of Construction and Infrastructure, toured sections of Highway 2000 in St. Catherine.
And Minister of Housing, Transport and Works, Robert Pickersgill, has said the decision to engage the Malaysians for the Montego Bay bypass was calculated. "They are very, very experienced in the construction of highways," he noted, adding that they have completed more than 30 such projects.
The 11.9 kilometre bypass is expected to cost US$80.2 million (J$5.2 billion).
In the meantime, Prime Minister Abdullah has indicated that his government will be seeking to strengthen links with Jamaica in the areas of tourism, trade, investments and sports. "Jamaica and Malaysia are two friendly countries which can do business together," he stated.
CROSS-BORDER TOURIST FLOWS
He wants both countries to pursue the possibilities for cross-border tourist flows and for Jamaica to collaborate with Malaysia to benefit from advancements in education, information and communication technology, health care and research and development.
However, in terms of the current levels of trade, Prime Minister Abdullah said he is disappointed with Jamaica. According to him, in 2005 Malaysian exports to Jamaica comprising mainly chemicals, machinery and appliances were valued at US$13 million, while imports from Jamaica, primarily of beverages, paper and pulp products, was only US$100,000.
In the meantime, the Malaysian Prime Minister has invited Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and a group of business persons to his country to begin discussions for further trade relationships.
Yesterday, Opposition Leader, Bruce Golding led a team of Jamaica Labour Party officials during a meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah to have talks relating to bilateral relationships.
"We came away very, very enthused and looking forward to future relationships with the Malaysians when we become Government," Opposition spokesman on Information Senator Dwight Nelson told The Gleaner/Power 106 News after the meeting.
