Boeing spotlights Malaysia business

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ST. LOUIS, May 24 (UPI) -- Malaysia's industry and business opportunities in the country were spotlighted earlier this month in a conference in the United States.

Boeing, which co-hosted the conference in St. Louis with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, said 75 U.S. and Malaysian businesses participated in the event.

"Strategic and cultural alliances are shifting back to markets in Asia," said former U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond, who spoke at the conference. "Establishing partnerships with Malaysian industry is critical in capturing new opportunities.

"Malaysia has transformed into a competitive, high-tech economy that is actively seeking areas of mutual collaboration in the medical, technology, and aerospace industries."

Malaysia flies Boeing's FA/18D Hornets, and the company is offering its "F" model in the government's competition for new combat aircraft. Insitu Pacific, a joint venture between Boeing and Insitu, recently partnered with Malaysian company Composites Technology Research Malaysia for in-country support of ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems that are being acquired by the country.

"Strategic international partnerships create combinations of capabilities and ideas that give the partners a greater competitive advantage for future business pursuits," said Mike Gibbons, Boeing vice president of F/A-18 and E/A-18 Programs. "Boeing continues to demonstrate its long-term commitment to building win-win opportunities with the Malaysian aerospace industry that are independent of any one platform sale and will continue beyond any potential sale."