UAE, Malaysia discuss advancing relations

During the roundtable, Al Zeyoudi heralded the deepening relationship between the UAE and Malaysia. He said: “The UAE greatly values our economic, social and cultural bonds with Malaysia, the strength of which is a reflection of the shared will of the nations’ respective leadership to foster constructive cooperation and unlock mutually beneficial opportunity. The frequent exchange of official visits and meetings between our business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs, which all seek to establish long-term partnerships in high-potential sectors, underline the desire for greater economic alignment.”

Anwar Ibrahim used the occasion to invite UAE companies to invest in Malaysia. He said: “Very pleased with the opportunity to engage with representatives of 21 major UAE companies and sovereign wealth funds including ADNOC, TAQA, MASDAR, Al-Dahra, LuLu, DP World, ADIA, and Mubadala. During the session, I shared Malaysia’s experience, policies and priorities in attracting investments from renowned global companies such as Tesla, Infineon, and Geely. I also shared the country’s focus areas as outlined in the new National Energy Transition Roadmap and the New Industrial Masterplan 2030.

“We sincerely hope for stronger relations between Malaysia and the UAE as we explore new areas of collaboration including in renewable energy, digital economy, food security, energy, health, and connectivity,” he added.

Malaysia ranks as the UAE’s 12th-largest global trade partner, while the UAE is Malaysia’s second-largest trade partner in the Arab world, accounting for 32 percent of Malaysia’s trade with Arab nations, and 17th-most important globally. The UAE is also the principal destination for Malaysian merchandise exports to the Arab world, accounting for 40 percent of Malaysia’s exports to the region. In 2022, bilateral non-oil trade reached US$4.8 billion compared to US$3.5 billion achieved in 2020, with 36 percent growth.

During the roundtable, participants discussed project updates and explored joint venture opportunities in high-growth sectors like energy, clean energy, infrastructure, logistics, and food security, in addition to deliberating on investment prospects in other countries. Key advantages of each side were presented, including the market access granted by the UAE’s strategic location and worldclass logistics infrastructure, and Malaysia’s raw materials, strategic location and economic position in East Asia.

Last May, the UAE and Malaysia signed a joint declaration of intent to launch negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and talks have now commenced between the two parties.