RIO DE JANEIRO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Monday (July 7) that his official visits to Italy, France and Brazil have successfully met their intended objectives.
Besides reinforcing bilateral ties, he said the visits also contributed to efforts to attract investments and boost Malaysia’s trade relations.
Speaking at a press conference at the conclusion of the three-nation visit which began in Italy on July 1, he said it also raised Malaysia’s visibility in its capacity as Asean Chair for 2025.
He underscored that the mission opened up wider networks for Malaysian companies to expand internationally.
The visit to Italy alone generated over RM8bil in potential investments, while the engagements in France brought in RM4bil.
Anwar was accompanied by five Cabinet ministers - Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir was also part of the delegation.
The Prime Minister was also joined by a business delegation comprising representatives from leading Malaysian corporates and innovative enterprises, including Petronas, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Maybank, FGV, YTL Power and Sunway.
Anwar’s inaugural official visit to Italy came at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, aimed at deepening bilateral relations across a broad range of sectors.
While investment and trade were key priorities, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the trip also provided an opportunity to address geopolitical issues.
Anwar stressed that Malaysia’s firm stance on humanitarian issues in the Middle East was conveyed clearly, especially on the situation in Gaza and attacks on Iran.
He noted that Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were aligned in their calls to end the violence in Gaza, which has reportedly claimed some 56,000 lives.
"Macron has already issued his statement. As for Meloni, she agreed on the need to stop the attacks. She specifically mentioned Israeli aggression and supports peace efforts and the two-state solution, meaning she recognises Palestine as a state," said Anwar.
Responding to claims that the visits benefited European nations more - particularly in relation to aircraft purchases - Anwar said the deals would yield long-term benefits for Malaysia.
"These aircraft orders were made by airlines, including AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines, but the government also wants the country to benefit," he explained.
Malaysia, he said, is seeking to position itself as a hub for aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and Embraer, particularly in areas like maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), training, and supply chain activities.
In Brazil, during the 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit, Malaysia drew attention when Anwar was invited to speak at the BRICS Business Forum attended by the Brazilian President.
"The forum was opened with a keynote session by the President. Malaysia was given priority even though we are not a full member (of BRICS)," Anwar said.
He said that he used the opportunity to stress the need for justice between developed and developing nations, and to raise concerns over the governance of artificial intelligence technologies.
The visit to Brazil also allowed Anwar to meet with several world leaders and heads of international organisations.
In Rio de Janeiro, the second biggest city in Brazil, the Prime Minister held discussions with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and three counterparts namely Narendra Modi (India), Pham Minh Chinh (Vietnam), and Mostafa Madbouly (Egypt).
Following a meeting with New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff, Anwar said Malaysia's potential membership in the bank would be considered after a detailed assessment by Bank Negara Malaysia.
He added that several Malaysian companies, including Petronas and Yinson Production, have already made inroads into the Brazilian market. - Bernama
