Malaysia's decision to participate in Expo Milano 2015 has yielded results not only in the tourism but also in business sectors, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He said with the government's moderate expenditure, compared with other countries' to participate in the world's biggest expo, which was held once in five years, the returns were expected not only in the short but also in the long term.
The participation in the expo, which started from May 1 and ending on Oct 30, would expose the investment and trade opportunities Malaysia could offer to Europe, especially Italy, he said.
Najib said this to Malaysian reporters after making a three-day working visit to Milan starting last Friday.
He left for home at noon, Sunday.
The prime minister said to-date, 2.4 million people had visited the Malaysian Pavilion, representing 15 per cent of the total visitors to the expo.
The figure was higher that the projected 1.6 million visitors, he said. A study by a local newspaper, Corroere della Sierra, showed that Malaysia was third country the expo visitors liked after visiting the pavilion.
"Their impressions towards Malaysia very high," he said. The paper's study also showed that Malaysian food and food products were the third most delicious after Italy's and Colombia's, he said.
"The food sales at the pavilion raked in RM1.7 million and products from small and medium enterprises, including ready-to-cook meals, recorded sales of RM1 million," he said.
Najib said the glue-laminated timber used in the construction of the Malaysia Pavillion has gained access into European Union countries for the first time since it was environment-friendly.
He said the government's decision to participate in the expo was correct.
"We need to introduce Malaysia's profile as being more competitive and find various ways to project the country's image overseas, especially, Europe," he said.
Bernama
Sun Oct 04 2015
Najib said the glue-laminated timber used in the construction of the Malaysia Pavillion has gained access into European Union countries for the first time since it was environment-friendly. - Bernama Photo
AWANI Ringkas: PM di Sabah, lawatan kerja sehari
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Amelia Henderson jawab tuduhan pakai rantai dengan loket salib
Aktres i.D berikut menerima kecaman kerana memakai loket balerina yang disalah erti oleh warga maya dengan lambang salib.
Mengenang Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar 1939-2024
Baik bagi mengenang pemergian tokoh negara berjiwa besar Allahyarham Tun Haniff Omar
Bersama kami di talian adalah Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini yang juga merupakan tokoh pentadbiran yang kita kenali
Bersama kami di talian adalah Tan Sri Mohd Annuar Zaini yang juga merupakan tokoh pentadbiran yang kita kenali
Perluasan konflik serantau, Asia Barat
Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, Felo Kanan Akademi Penyelidikan Strategik Nusantara NASR
'Saya akan beri keputusan dalam masa singkat' - Anwar
Ketua-ketua cabang di Sabah telah memberikan pandangan dan keputusan akan dipertimbang dalam masa terdekat.
Wanita usung mayat bapa saudara ke bank demi tanda tangan dokumen pinjaman wang
Erika memberitahu pekerja bank bahawa bapa saudaranya mahu melakukan pinjaman sebanyak 17,000 reais (RM15,523).
Sambutan Aidilfitri MADANI 2024 peringkat kebangsaan dirai di Sabah hari ini
Majlis itu membuka tirai dan menerima kunjungan orang ramai seawal pukul 10.30 pagi hingga 3 petang.
Air Sungai Pasir keruh, LRA Wangsa Maju dihenti tugas sementara
Langkah kawalan itu bagaimanapun tidak menyebabkan gangguan penyaluran air mentah ke LRA Wangsa Maju.
AWANI Pagi: Perang Israel-Iran: Perang alaf baharu?
Diskusi 8.30 pagi Sabtu bersama Jumaat bersama Pakar Hubungan Antarabangsa, Prof Dr. Ahmad Marthada Mohamed mengenai kemungkinan lebih buruk boleh dijangkakan di rantau Asia Barat selepas Israel bertindak melancarkan peluru berpandu dan membedil bandar Isfahan di Iran semalam.
Buang dua ekor itik kerana bimbang nasib malang
Siok Hui meletakkan kedua-dua itik itu dalam sebuah kotak sebelum ditinggalkan di Hutan Simpan Bukit Timah ketika kejadian pada 2020.