Opportunities for economic cooperation between Perlis and Acheh are vast and should be jointly exploited by investors, said the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail.

Inviting investors in Acheh to look at investment potentials in Perlis, he said, companies in Perlis should also identify investment opportunities available in Acheh, like in the education, tourism and agriculture sectors.

He said the Perlis government was developing the halal hub and Acheh had the potential to supply cheap and quality raw materials to meet the needs of the halal industry in the state.

Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is also Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) chancellor, said this in his speech at a dinner hosted by the Mayor of Banda Acheh, Hajah Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal, in Banda Acheh last night.

He said the hahal industry developed in Malaysia was recognised worldwide and provided a good potential investment.

"Acheh also has the potential to become a market for halal industrial products developed by Perlis since Acheh has a Muslim population of almost 4.8 million people," he added.

He also saw potentials in Acheh's tourism sector and believed that with the experience and expertise Acheh had, Perlis could share the knowledge.

Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is also Perlis Islamic Religion and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs) president, also suggested sharing of expertise in certain fields, like Islamic education.

"Acheh, as a centre of Islamic-based education, is in line with the development of Islamic education in Perlis which as led to the establishment of the Perlis Islamic University College (KUIPs), which comes under MAIPs, Perlis Islamic Higher Institution of Learning (IPTIPs), Sekolah Menengah Agama Ma’had Attarbiyah Al-Islamiyah (MATRI) and also the proposed Maahad Tahfiz," he added.

He said Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), the Perlis Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Kolej Antarabangsa Teknologi dan Profesional (KATPM) Perlis could also engage in smart partnership with learning institutions in Acheh, especially in engineering.

Also present were UniMAP vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kamarudin Hussin and the Rector of Universiti Ubudiyah Indonesia (UUI), Marniati M. Kes.