PASIR GUDANG, Sun. - Malaysia received her first shipment of live cattle and horses from South America today, effectively marking the beginning of many similar ventures to boost South-South co-operation and trade.

 
The first shipment of 1,420 head of cattle and 33 horses from Argentina arrived at Johor Port this afternoon on a Panama-registered vessel dubbed MV Friesian Express chartered by shipping company Halim Mazmin Bhd.

 
The cattle, imported by a Kuala Lumpur-based livestock breeder, are for breeding and fattening purposes while the horses are meant for the various mounted units of the Malaysian police.

 
The arrival of the livestock was witnessed by Halim Mazmin executive chairman Tan Sri Halim Mohammad, company staff, representatives from the police, the livestock breeder and port officials.

 
Earlier at a Press conference, Halim said he wanted to provide local livestock breeders a competitive alternative to importing cattle and horses from Australia by sourcing for the animals from South American countries.

 
He said the devaluation of the Argentinian peso could pave the way for more two-way trade between both countries, apart from making Argentina a natural staging point for the entry of Malaysian goods into South America.

 
"From Argentina, Malaysian goods could find their way into countries like Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Paraguay.

 
"Our company hopes to facilitate trade relations by providing the means to ship those goods.

 
"We also want to realise Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad's vision of closer co-operation between South-South countries," he said at the Tanjung Puteri Golf and Country Resort here. Last year, Malaysia's total trade with South countries was valued at US$38.7 billion (RM147.06 billion).

 
Malaysia's major exports to South countries were electrical and electronic products; palm oil; chemical and chemical products; crude petroleum; and machinery, appliances and parts.

 
Major imports were electrical and electronic products; agricultural goods; crude petroleum; chemicals and chemical products; machinery, appliances and parts.

 
Meanwhile, Halim said one of the 33 horses had given birth to a healthy colt on the 25-day journey by sea on board the 6,500-tonne cargo vessel from the port of Buenos Aires.

 
"We were lucky to have an additional bonus in the form of a newborn colt.

 
"We hope to present the colt to our Prime Minister as a retirement gift." He said all the animals were reportedly in good health.