Italian-British helicopter manufacturer Agusta Westland has chosen Malaysia as its regional hub serving the Southeast Asia region, local media reported Friday.

Its Vice President for Southeast Asia and China, Fulvio Maurogiovanni, said the company has allocated heavily to upgrade its existing facility in Subang Airport near here into a full- fledged regional hub of maintenance, sales and services center.

The company has already invested 20 million ringgit (5.56 million U.S. dollars) and when its facility goes into full capacity in 2007, the total investment will reach 60 million ringgit (16.67 million U.S. dollars), Maurogiovanni told the Bernama news agency in a recent interview.

The Subang full-fledged service center, which will work in synergy with other Agusta Westland's hubs in China, Japan and Australia, is expected to commence operations in early 2007.

Maurogiovanni said Malaysia is practically attractive to Agusta Westland because of its strategic location in Southeast Asia, political stability, dynamic economy and favorable financial climate.

He said the company, after operating in Malaysia for more than 24 years, would like to expand its client base in this country and have more customers from the private sector and individuals.

Currently, its Subang service center is maintaining the A109 helicopter for the Malaysian armed force.