EU Ambassadors impressed by Iskandar Malaysia's progress

30 October 2009, By IRDA

Johor Bahru, Thursday October 21th – A total of 22 delegates from 13 European Union countries visited Iskandar Malaysia on a two-day visit recently. They were briefed and taken on a tour to review the progress of projects in Iskandar Malaysia on October 12th.

The delegates included Ambassadors and Head of Missions from Sweden, Belgium, Romania, Italy, France, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with their spouses.

The head of delegation, Sweden ambassador Helena Sångeland said the entire delegation considered their visit as a successful one, adding that the tour of the region had been most informative.

“It is clear that there is considerable progress taking place and the main drivers remain committed. The zone clearly has a competitive edge, which should stand Iskandar Malaysia in a good stead, particularly when manufacturing activities in the zone increase,” said Sångeland.

The delegation also met with Johor Chief Minister and IRDA co-Chairman Dato’ Abdul Ghani Othman and attended Iskandar Regional Development Authority’s (IRDA) Hari Raya Open House celebration at Persada Johor.

The next day, representatives from IRDA, Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), Iskandar Waterfront Development (IWD), UEM Land and Danga Bay were on hand to guide and provide briefings to the delegation.

While the Ambassadors visited Kota Iskandar, Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club, Medini, East Ledang, Puteri Harbour and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), their spouses were treated to a cultural experience through the tourism products at Pekan Nenas and Tanjung Piai, where they visited the Pineapple Museum, Serkat Homestay Villge and the Tanjung Piai National Park.

At the Pineapple Museum, the spouses witnessed a demonstration on making thread out of pineapple leaf while at the Serkat Homestay Village, they feasted on lunch using their fingers and were joined by the locals who also treated them to cultural performances.

At Tanjung Piai National Park, they experienced being at the Southern-most tip of mainland Asia and did their part for the environment by planting mangrove seedlings in the swamps.

The mangrove replanting campaign, especially for the Api-api species, is crucial to establish a frontline species for coastal protection. This campaign is an on-going effort by the Tanjung Piai National Park to conserve the diversity of mangrove species in Tanjung Piai.

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About IRDA

The Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) is the regulatory authority mandated to plan, promote and facilitate the development of Iskandar Malaysia into a strong and sustainable metropolis of international standing, where living, working, business and leisure converge seamlessly.

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