Three World’s Biggest Caravan Producers Exploring to invest in Malaysia

KUANTAN Feb 7 - Three biggest caravan producers in the world from Europe are exploring to invest and set up their manufacturing plant in Malaysia, said Bernhard Schutte, Chairman of TAPiO Management Advisory Sdn Bhd.

He said the three, all billion-dollar companies, namely Erwin Hymer Group, Knaus Tabbert, and Hobby Fendt are exploring to establishing and making Malaysia their distribution hub for Asia Pacific region.

''Not only for Malaysia but also, they want to export the caravans which is also known as Recreational Vehicles into the Asia Pacific market.

''This will create thousand of job opportunities for the locals not only in manufacturing but also for the spare parts and its components industry for the caravans, he told DagangNews.com here.

He disclosed that one of the locations earmarked for the caravan manufacturing plant is in Pekan, Pahang.

Schutte had a meeting with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's on a recent visit to Kuantan Tower 188 after chairing the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) meeting.

Earlier before the prime minister and his entourage enter the tower, Schutte had briefed him on the RV or the caravan which was on display at the entrance of the tower.

Schutte said the task to attract billion-dollar investment into Malaysia is done together with ECERDC, TAPiO Management Advisory that he leads.

He said, it would not have been possible to bring in the investors without the assistance from both the Malaysian and German governments.

"Apart from the governments, we also get full support from German Ambassador to Malaysia Ambassador, Dr Peter Blomeyer, who works tirelessly to make sure this happen," he said.

Speaking to DagangNews.Com, Kuantan 188 Tower chairman Datuk Indera Naresh Mohan said: "We had the honour and privilege of hosting the prime minister who visited Pahang

''I suppose it is regular meeting of the (ECERDC) and he decided to come over here to have lunch at Menara Kuantan 188. He enjoyed himself very much, said Naresh.

The prime minister was accompanied by the Menteri Besar of Pahang Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail who also attended the ECERDC meeting.

Present were Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Bentara Kanan Ahmad Yakob, and Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar,

Also present were Finance Minister Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali. All of them earlier attended ECERDC meeting.

Touching on plans to produce the caravans locally, Naresh said: ''Well, it will be a great opportunity. The idea is right, excellent one.

"If all goes well and if you start producing it in Malaysia, it would bring the price down and it will make it more affordable for families to use the caravan and travel around, '' he said.

Hail the proposed settings up of the manufacturing plant, Pahang State Executive Councillor, who is a Committee Member of Pahang Tourism, Environment and Plantations, Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said: "RV is a very interesting vehicle.

"With RV, you have everything inside for your accommodation you do not have to check into the hotel or motel, and you can be on the move all the time.

"I think it is a very good concept of new lifestyle especially for people who want to enjoy the leisure.

''I believe in Pahang we can use this because they are places where you want to have proper accommodation is far, then you can use the RV or caravan whatever it is called," he added. - DagangNews.Com