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08 December 2011| last updated at 01:15PM

UAE businesswomen look at opportunities in Islamic finance and halal food



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KUALA LUMPUR: United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s leading businesswomen are looking into investment opportunities to work with Malaysians in two areas - Islamic finance and halal food.

President of the Abu Dhabi Business Women Council and chief operating officer of Al Jaber Group Fatima Al Jaber said Islamic finance and halal food were the two mutual areas that Malaysia and UAE could work together.

"Islamic finance is a very important sector that Malaysia is pioneering and I chair an investment bank (in the UAE). We are looking into investment opportunities in Malaysia," she told Bernama after the UAE - Malaysia Power Ladies Roundtable 2011 here today.

Al Jaber is among ten influential UAE businesswomen who are in Malaysia for the Power Ladies UAE-Malaysia Roundtable 2011 tour. The Power Ladies tour, organised by Inside Investor, runs from December 5-9 and is aimed at providing the UAE guests with a greater understanding of the business opportunities available in Malaysia.

She said UAE offered huge opportunities for Malaysians in many areas included leisure, hotel, sports, property, healthcare and education.

"UAE is a consumer market. The sports and healthcare industry are growing. Education is another area. We have all types of school and universities in the UAE. There is also a great demand for certain types of properties there," she said.

She also said that financial services were another area Malaysians could tap  as foreigners were currently involved in the business in the Emirates.

"The should be two-way (business ties)...Malaysians should come to UAE and venture into these areas," she added.

The Power Ladies group also mentioned that three important areas that they would look into before venturing into businesses in Malaysia were government rules regulations, taxation and the business environment.

The group, over the previous two days, met Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation chief executive officer Dr Wong Lai Sum, chief executive officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority Datuk Noharuddin Nordin, SME Corp Chief Operating Officer Datuk Hafsah Hashim.

Today, they are scheduled to meet the Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah. -- BERNAMA

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