Iskandar Investment, Dutch To Start Talks On Maritime Institute

By Anis IbrahimPublished: 2009/04/25

ISKANDAR Investment Bhd (IIB) yesterday inked an agreement with two Dutch institutions to start talks on setting up a world-class maritime institute at EduCity in Iskandar Malaysia.

IIB signed the deal with Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz (MIWB) and Maritime Institute de Ruyter (MIR).

Founded in 1875, MIWB is the oldest Dutch maritime institute and among the most advanced shipofficers training institutes in the world.

MIR is one of the leading maritime educational institutions in Western Europe.

IIB managing director Arlida Ariff said a Dutch maritime institute in Iskandar Malaysia will be the first in Asia and help raise the standards of maritime education in Malaysia.

"It will also help to facilitate knowledge transfer from the two world-renowned Dutch maritime institutions to our shore.

"This collaboration has the potential to develop into an exciting partnership as it enhances IIB's efforts to create an extraordinary educational environment for Malaysia and the region," she said in a statement.

The institute would help provide skilled workers for the ports in Iskandar Malaysia and other parts of Asia.

The signing, held in Kuala Lumpur, was witnessed by the head of the Economy and Trade Section of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jacoba Bolderheij.

Bolderheij said the Netherlands was happy to see cooperation between the two countries in the field of education.

"The Netherlands has always been one of top 10 Malaysian foreign investors. We are also one of Malaysia's active trading partners from Europe, with Malaysia exporting over RM25 billion to Europe via the Netherlands," she said.