“Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have investment friendly climate and we call upon Saudi businessmen to exploit investment opportunities in Malaysia,” Mohammed said highlighting the strong relations between the two OIC countries.

The Malaysian minister highlighted Saudi Arabia’s strong position being the largest economy in the Middle East. “We consider Saudi Arabia as a center to expand our activities in the Middle East,” he said.

“I take this opportunity to invite Saudi companies to Malaysia to explore various investment opportunities in our country,” the minister said.

Welcoming his Malaysian guest, Mazen Batterjee, deputy chairman of JCCI, underscored the growing economic and trade relations between the countries.

“Bilateral trade amounted to SR7.6 billion in 2009 with Saudi exports reaching SR4 billion and imports SR3.5 billion,” Batterjee said.

Malaysian companies have acquired about 54 construction contracts in the Gulf with a total value of $9.5 billion in 2008. Last year the country received more than 264,000 tourists from the Gulf.