A two-day conference to highlight emerging business opportunities in India and Malaysia, especially in Information Communication Technology, business process outsourcing and biotechnology sectors, will be held in January 2005 in the Malaysia.

Organised by National SMI Consultative Centre, Malaysia, the theme of the conference to be held on January 17-18, is 'India - An emerging giant'. The meet will be an opportunity for Indian businessmen and government officials to showcase potential investment avenues in India, said Chau Jui Meng, Chairman of NASMIC.

Indian industry can utilise the conference to further their business ties with Malaysia, which has emerged as "India's first and principal partner in the Association of South East Asian Nations," he said.

There are two million Indians in Malaysia, but bilateral trade was lower at $4 billion, compared to Malaysia's trade with China, Meng said.

The Malaysia-China bilateral trade was $25 billion and growing at rapid pace. "Malaysia is the gateway to ASEAN and China," he said, pointing out that one-third of the Malaysian population was of Chinese origin.

Malaysian companies have been investing in India, pumping more than $450 million in sectors such as infrastructure, oil, power, telecommunications, tourism and human resources. This can be further enhanced, Meng said.