NEW YORK: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's visit to New York from Sunday will pave the way for a shift in relations between Malaysia and the United States (US), especially in the economic sphere, according to those in the diplomatic circle.

The Malaysian prime minister will use his time in New York to make a pitch for increased American investments in the Southeast Asian nation.

And no other person is more excited about the trip than Malaysian ambassador to the US Datuk Seri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis.

"He is set to enlighten American investors and captains of financial services industry on new policies as well as other measures introduced by Malaysia in a bid to make it a preferred destination for investment," the envoy told Malaysian journalists covering Najib's visit.

Najib, who is also finance minister, will be in New York and Washington from Nov 22 to 25 en route to Trinidad and Tobago for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

According to Dr Jamaluddin, the prime minister intended to build a new "bridge" between Kuala Lumpur and Washington that could further spur economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries.

The US is Malaysia's largest trading partner while Malaysia ranks as its 16th largest trading partner. Reports indicated that annual two-way trade had topped the US$40 billion mark.

The envoy spoke of Najib's move to liberalise 27 sub-sectors in the services sector to make the country more attractive to investors, among others.

He said the prime minister would be able to take a pulse of the US economic health during his visit to New York which the envoy described as the nerve centre of global financial activity.

Dr Jamaluddin, a former cabinet minister appointed as ambassador to the US on Nov 4, noted that the global financial crisis might have hit the US hard but there were signs that things were looking up.

Measures to stimulate the US financial and economic sector had begun to bear fruit, he noted.

"For example, many US banks have been able to repay government loans extended to them at the height of the financial crisis," he said.

Najib has a busy schedule Monday, including a meeting with investors arranged by CIMB and Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB).

He is scheduled to meet American bankers and financiers over lunch co-hosted by CSFB, JP Morgan and Barclays Bank.

The Malaysian leader is also slated to hold talks with Gene Delaney, president of Motorola's Enterprise Mobility Solutions, as well as Steve Forbes, president of Forbes Inc.

He will also meet members of the Malaysian community in New York and Washington.

A dinner with United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon also features in Najib's itinerary.

According to Dr Jamaluddin, the US investment and financial community believed that it was a good time for the prime minister to come to town and share his thoughts with them amid indications of a US economic recovery.

"It's a suitable moment for him to explain measures and policies taken by Malaysia to improve its investment climate in the hope that existing American companies as well as new ones would opt for Malaysia as an investment destination of choice," he said.

The ambassador also mentioned about plans to revitalise the Malaysian Trade, Security and Economic Cooperation Caucus.

"Malaysian and American leaders may have good ties but we can't ignore efforts at the legislative level to strengthen linkages between the two countries," he added.