'India keen to buy MiG-29 aircraft from Malaysia'

India has stated its keenness to buy MiG-29 aircraft from Malaysia and upgrade them for use by its air force, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said here after his visit to India, a media report said.

Prime Minister Najib said the proposal was among the aspects of military cooperation agreed to by both countries during his talks in India.

The Prime Minister said the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) would look at the form of cooperation, including handling the Sukhoi aircraft and spare parts, Bernama news reported.

"There is a possibility too that they will buy our MiG 29 aircraft for refit. We reciprocate by accepting spare parts for our Sukhoi aircraft programme," Najib told a media conference, at the end of a six-day visit to India which started on March 30 in Chennai.

According to leading military aviation magazine, 'AirForces Monthly', the Royal Malaysian Air Force in 1995 procured 18 MiG-29N from Russia, and presently has 10 MiG-29N and 2 MiG-29NU (Trainers) in its fleet.

Najib termed his visit to India successful in terms of investments between the two countries, during which 31 memoranda of understanding (B-to-B) had been signed with investments totalling US$35.99 billion.

The bilateral cooperation encompassed construction of harbours and roads, development of solar energy, smart city, palm oil and coconut, technology park and higher education.

In addition, Topworth Group and Samarth Group from India had submitted their Letters of Intent to invest US$380 million in Malaysia, he added.

The Prime Minister said Samarth Group, which manufactures critical medical products, planned to invest US$80 million in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, while Topworth, an aluminium foil manufacturer for packaging medicine, was keen to invest US$300 million in Bintulu, Sarawak.

Najib also said Malaysia was striving to obtain six highway construction packages totalling 3,000 km in Rajashtan involving an estimated investment of US$1.5 billion.

"My visit to Jaipur showcases Malaysia's keenness on the highway project in Rajashtan and the model to be implemented by Malaysia will be an example to the states neighbouring Rajashtan," he said, Bernama quoted him as saying.

--IANS

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