Malaysia has to step up efforts to attract foreign investments in the marine industries for it to become a developed maritime nation, its trade minister said, Business Times reported.

         "This will bring about the transfer of technologies and expertise, create new capacities, fill in vacuum in services not available in the country and help contribute to the creation of high-value jobs," International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said.

         Malaysia was ranked 18th among 35 most important maritime countries and territories by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development last year, in terms of deadweight tonnage of its merchant vessels.