PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been conferred Kosovo's highest civilian honour, the Order of Independence, by the republic's President Dr Vjosa Osmani Sadriu on Friday (May 2).
The Order of Independence is awarded to individuals who have played a significant role in supporting the country’s independence.
During a joint press conference aired live, Vjosa Osmani said this is to mark Malaysia's continuous support and role in supporting the country’s independence and state building.
"This is also for your (Anwar's) personal unwavering dedication to further fostering our bilateral relations.
"Thank you and 'terima kasih' on behalf of the people of Kosovo," she said.
Osmani-Sadriu will also be posthumously conferring the Order of Independence on the late former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in recognition of his leadership during a pivotal period in Kosovo’s history.
Under his stewardship, Malaysia became one of the earliest countries to recognise Kosovo’s independence on Oct 30, 2008.
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Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Kosovo were formally established on March 18, 2011.
In 2024, total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Kosovo reached RM28.55mil (US$6.0mil), with Malaysia's exports to the republic valued at RM25.92mil (US$5.5mil), and imports at RM2.63mil (US$550,000).
Key Malaysian exports include palm oil, electrical and electronic products, and manufactured goods, while imports from Kosovo mainly consist of raw materials and semi-precious stones.
The conferment recognises Malaysia’s unwavering support for Kosovo’s statehood and post-independence development, as well as Anwar's steadfast commitment to strengthening bilateral ties between both countries, said the Prime Minister's Office.
Among past recipients of the Order are Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (2014); George W. Bush, former President of the United States (2018); Micheline Calmy-Rey, former President of Switzerland (2022); and the late Anne Marie Lizin, former President of the Belgian Senate (2024).
