SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 23 — Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak opened Khazanah Nasional Berhad’s regional office for the Americas, Khazanah Americas Incorporated (KAI), in San Francisco yesterday.
He hoped the office would help propel Malaysia into developed-nation status by 2020.
Khazanah Americas, on the 45th Floor, 101 California Street, San Francisco, is its third regional office after Beijing and Mumbai.
Present at the opening were Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek; Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin; Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Director, San Francisco Mayor’s Office of International Trade and Commerce Mark Chandler.
Khazanah Americas’ office has a scenic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge when the bridge was completed in 1937, to connect San Francisco with Marin County across the 1,600-metre-wide strait known as the Golden Gate, which links San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean.
Complimenting Khazanah for “the great choice of sparkling office with a nice view”, Najib said Khazanah had made the right choice to be in San Francisco as the city was the centre of innovation in the United States — one of the most dynamic regions in the world, home to the most admired and innovative busineses and institutions.
Najib, who is Khazanah Nasional Berhad chairman, said the opening of the office showed that the Malaysian government fully supported and underpinned its seriousness in creating a competitive, sustainable and innovation-friendly environment, and encouraged private and government entities to invest in key sectors abroad.
He said Malaysia was keen to invest in high-value areas such as life sciences, green technology and cutting-edge innovation that could help Malaysia’s transformation efforts.
Malaysia hoped to learn from the United States its culture of innovation, risk-taking and entrepreneurship, to spur Malaysia’s own economic growth. He was looking forward to seeing the innovation that would come from the San Francisco initiative.
He said that over the years, Malaysia’s business and economic interests had expanded across the globe, and hoped that the Khazanah office would be able to identify potential partners and get the people in innovation in the Americas to partner with those in Malaysia.
He said Iskandar Malaysia in Johor had established itself as a high-value innovative centre and its Pinewood Studios, an integrated media production studio facility, were expected to be completed and opened next year.
Malaysia had a lot to offer investors such as economic growth of 4-5 per cent a year, its Vision 2020 efforts being on track, and low inflation of 2 per cent, considering external factors affecting the world economy.
“With Khazanah Americas, we can further strengthen our presence and build strong networks with businesses here and I hope we can identify potential partners in America to help propel Malaysia into a developed nation status by 2020,z” he said.
Khazanah Nasional Berhad managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar said the San Francisco office would be a hub for Khazanah into innovation and technology as well as a bridge between the two countries and regions.
Najib, who arrived in San Francisco with his wife early yesterday, is on a working visit here until September 24, before he leads Malaysia’s delegation to the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from September 25 to 29.
He will deliver a statement on nuclear disarmament on September 26, before Malaysia’s statement during the General Debate on September 28. — Bernama
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