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SINGAPORE : Singapore's private education provider Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) is setting an overseas campus in Malaysia.
The deal signed in Kuala Lumpur will kick-start a 300-million ringgit (almost S$130 million) investment.
Mohammed Khaled Nordin, Malaysian Minister of Higher Education, said: "The setting up of this institute is a reflection of the confidence of the Singapore private sector towards Malaysia.
"And the facilitation is also a reflection of the Malaysian authorities in welcoming the investor from Singapore."
This should go a long way in promoting bilateral relations.
Mr Mohammed Khaled said: "It will help to improve ties, the relationship between the two countries, especially the people and especially the business sector."
The 30-acre campus will be located in EduCity in Iskandar Malaysia, which is also housing Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia and other universities.
MDIS' Malaysian campus will be built in three phases, starting at the end of 2011.
When phase one is completed in 2013, it will start with about 2,000 students in courses such as Business Management and Mass Communications; Information Technology and Digital Media; Travel and Tourism.
When fully completed in 2023, the campus is expected to take in a total of 10,000 students.
It will also be among the first campuses to have some of the most eco-friendly and disability-friendly features in Southeast Asia.
MDIS Secretary General, Dr R Theyvendran, said Malaysia is a market of great potential as the Malaysian education sector has grown during the past decade, and has attracted more than 50,000 international students from over 100 countries.
Currently, there are about 800,000 students enrolled in higher education across the country.
Dr R Theyvendran added that EduCity@Iskandar has good infrastructure, logistics and other physical amenities and facilities.
It is also close to other fast-developing sectors in Iskandar such as tourism and financial services, which translate to greater job opportunities for students when they graduate.
MDIS' Malaysian campus will be about five times bigger than the MDIS campus in Singapore, and will be the institute's second campus overseas. Its first is in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, built in 2008 at a cost of US$20 million.
- CNA /ls/al
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