SapuraKencana aiming for $7bn in deals, 65% from overseasSapuraKencana aiming for $7bn in deals, 65% from overseas

He added that the company is pushing strongly to grow its business overseas and expects to be doing about 60% to 65% of its business overseas.

"Last year, the ratio was 40% overseas and 60% domestic. Probably, this will start to reverse this year," he said. Shahril said this year the group would implement projects in its order book and continue to bid for more projects globally, starting with Brazil in the second quarter.

Shahril added that the group is actively bidding for contracts in Africa for its drilling business and will continue to develop the Mexican market, with the acquisition of a new heavy lift vessel that was launched in China recently.

SapuraKencana would also leverage on the recently-acquired Malaysian assets of US-based Newfield Exploration, he said. SapuraKencana Energy Inc, will develop some of the fields within SapuraKencana's assets and the group meanwhile would also continue to pursue risk service contracts (RSCs) or marginal fields in Malaysia and the region, Shahril said.

He was, however, coy on speculation that SapuraKencana is in talks with another US independent player, Murphy Oil Corp, to acquire the latter's assets in Malaysia.