My foremost congratulations is extended to Tan Sri Dato' Muhammad Ali Hashim, the Group Chief Executive of Johor Corporation and his team at Persada Johor for moving a significant step forward in achieving the first International Convention Centre in Johor and south of Kuala Lumpur.

Great efforts have been put into its design, planning and construction and I strongly believe that we shall have a superior Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) product in our midst by the time Persada Johor opens in October 2006. Johor Corporation has had an illustrious track record in helping to develop Johor as it is today and I do not for a moment doubt that they will once again be able to achieve a feat thatwill be integral in bringing Johor's economic growth to a higher level of success and to put Johor info into the world map as one of the preferred venues for international meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions.

I see the advent of Persada Johor as instrumental to the integration of Johor Bahru's offerings, whether it be for business or for leisure, within the city center setting unprecedented standards for this southern part of Malaysia. Surrounding it are already the necessary infrastructures which will mark its success in attracting our locals as well as visitors to convene here - from first-class accommodation, deluxe shopping malls, popular food outlets, leisure facilities within the vicinity to easy access to prime financial, government and commercial centers. It will all be happening here. There is also easy access to the outlying placesof attraction as this is where the transportation hubs are centred and where all the most important highways and expressways meet.

Indeed, we are already seeing the face of Johor Bahru's City Centre changing for tha better and Persada Johor is surely poised to play and intergral part in there changes in making Johor become one of Malaysia's hub of International business activities.

The Government of Johor feels confident that Persada Johor will achieve an impressive milestone in the state and country's development.

Thank You,

(DATO' HAJI ABDUL GHANI BIN OTHMAN)