LANGKAWI: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday 24 deals involving defence assets and services worth RM4.2 billion have been signed between the ministry, local and international defence firms, and the Pahang state government at the ongoing Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima 2013).
He said these include six government contracts, three letters of acceptance by the ministry, 11 Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) and four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
“These deals are aimed at strengthening the country’s defence industry and creating places for European firms at the Malaysian Defence & Security Technology Park (MDSTP) in Sungkai, Perak,” he told a media conference after witnessing the signing of agreements and contracts between the ministry and several defence companies here.
Also in attendance was Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.
Ahmad Zahid said nine agreements worth RM2.7 billion involving the MDSTP were signed.
Chief executive officer of MDSTP operator MDSTP Sdn Bhd, Datuk Ahmad Faris Abdul Halim, said the park would be developed over 12 years in three phases.
“When fully developed, it is expected to create about 50,000 new jobs and has the potential to attract RM15 billion in investments,” he said.
The deals were signed with Onetti Aircraft Supports SpA (collaboration in avionic services), GEM Elettronica Srl (cooperation in manufacture and repair of marine radar), Selex ES SpA (cooperation in cyber security and pilotless aircraft) and between University of Genoa and Universiti Teknologi Mara (establishing a centre of excellence, engineering degree in defence aerospace, green technology and student exchange programme).
MDSTP also signed deals with CSF Advisers Sdn Bhd (building a data centre); Duromac (M) Sdn Bhd (maintenance of 8×6 and 8×8 trucks); Armscor and Artimal De System Sdn Bhd (developing weapon systems and weapon test facilities); IDS Ignegneria Dei Sistemi SpA (defence technology solutions); and a RM580 million contract with Khadra Ventures Sdn Bhd (centralised cooling system and thermal energy storage at MDSTP).
MDSTP is a collaboration between MDSTP Sdn Bhd and the ministry under a Public Private Partnership initiative to build the region’s first national defence park. — Bernama