Opportunities for Malaysia to develop maritime economy

Port Klang operator Westport Holdings Bhd's earnings rose 18.8% to RM105.73mil in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2013 from RM88.97mil in the corresponding period a year before.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has the opportunities to further develop its maritime economy, with the support of numerous shipyards, ports and terminals, in addition to a prime geographic location.

Nazery Khalid, honorary secretary of the Association of Marine Industries Malaysia and head of planning and development, Boustead Heavy Industries Corp, said there were still opportunities for maritime players to tap the Asean market with the Asean Free-Trade Area (Afta) expanding into other regions such as the Middle East.