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December 22, 2008 21:39 PM

Mahathir: Yemen Must Produce Quality Products To Industrialise

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today Yemen should always ensure that its products are of good quality if it wishes to industrialise.

"Then in future people will trust all Yemeni products. And when they do this, the progress of industrialisation would be easier and faster," he said in his speech during a talk on "Industry, The Country's Future" at the "Made in Yemen" conference in Mukalla.

He said if "Made in Yemen" goods were to be sold in the local market and in other countries, then its quality standards must be very high.

"Once buyers are confident that the quality standards are always maintained selling the products would become much easier," he was quoted saying in a statement released here today.

Dr Mahathir said Yemen would be able to industrialise if it chooses the right products to manufacture.

He said to be an industrialised country, the first need was a government that was interested to do so as it played a big role in the industrialisation process.

"It must be prepared to make adjustments in policies and even make sacrifices so as to enable the capital and the technology to be made available for the industries," he said.

Dr Mahathir said although the industrialisation could be carried out by the government itself, the quality of the products was usually poor and could not compete in the world market.

"If I may say so, it is far better if the industrialisation is carried out by the private sector.

"The need to make private industries profitable ensures that it is well managed and the products would be of good quality, competitively priced and readily accepted by the consumers," he said.

However, Dr Mahathir said in some instances, it was necessary for the government to start the industry before privatising.

The government, he said, must contribute by providing good laws to support industry by designing taxes to encourage industries to be set up.

"Sometimes making industries tax-free would facilitate and attract investment in industries," he said.

He said the government would also get more revenue because of the prosperity created by industries.

The government, he said, must also ensure that the administration was efficient and free from corruption because industrialisation was difficult to achieve if corruption was rampant.

He said the political head of government must take an interest in ensuring that the time-table for approval was adhered to by the administrators and if there is a delay, he must make enquiries particularly when there was a complaint from the applicants concerned.

"This way the opportunities for corruption would be minimal," he said.

Dr Mahathir said apart from having good training and educational facilities to produce skilled workers and managers, the government must also provide the necessary infrastructure.

He also pointed out the importance of research for quality enhancement, packaging and branding for the products to enjoy premium prices.

-- BERNAMA

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