Khartoum keen to learn from Putrajaya’s development

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, June 09, 2004 (Bernama) — The Sudanese capital of Khartoum is looking at the Malaysian administrative capital of Putrajaya for pointers to help in its development process, particularly in the area of property development.

Dr Abdel Haleem Ismail Al-Muta’afi, the governor of Khartoum, which is also one of the states in Sudan, considered Putrajaya as one of the best results of the Malaysian experience in the field of development.

“Khartoum now is something like Kuala Lumpur in 1975. It is undergoing a process of development and we feel that contacts with Putrajaya can assist us in our endeavour,” he told reporters after calling on Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Azizan Zainul Abidin, here Wednesday.

Dr Al-Muta’afi said he would also hold talks with KLCC Holdings Sdn Bhd on matters pertaining to development projects in Khartoum.

KLCC Holdings is a company within the Petronas group. It was established to undertake the development and management of real estate properties at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre which includes the Petronas Twin Towers.

The governor is in Malaysia for a two-day visit at the invitation of Petronas which is active in both upstream and downstream sectors of the oil and gas industry in Sudan.

Dr Al-Muta’afi said apart from property development, he was also interested to forge relations with Malaysia’s vocational and technical training institutions with the hope that this could contribute in building up the skills and capabilities of people in Khartoum.

Meanwhile, Azizan, who is Petronas chairman, said the governor’s visit was an opportunity to showcase Malaysia’s capability in the construction industry and in developing world-class cities.

He also said Petronas’ decision to go to Sudan was a good one as it had now become one of the company’s major centres of activities among the 32 countries where it operates.