Envoy: PM’s visit to Germany to focus on enhancing bilateral and business ties
BERLIN: Malaysia will be looking at enhancing its bilateral and business ties with Germany, its largest trading partner among European Union members when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim undertakes a six-day visit to the country.
Malaysian Ambassador to Germany Datin Paduka Dr Adina Kamarudin said Anwar will be holding a bilateral meeting with his German counterpart Chancellor Olaf Scholz, besides paying a courtesy call to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“Prime Minister Anwar is expected to discuss various bilateral and global issues during his meetings with the two German leaders,” she said at a press conference with Malaysian media covering the premier’s visit here.
Steinmeier made a state visit to Malaysia from Feb 16 to 19 last year, where he also visited two of Germany’s largest investors in Malaysia – manufacturer of semiconductors Infineon, and medical technology specialist B. Braun.
During the visit, Steinmeier had said that Malaysia would be an important location for German companies to diversify their businesses and investments, adding that there are over 700 German companies there now, creating 65,000 jobs.
Anwar was expected to arrive here at 10pm yesterday (5am Monday Malaysian time).
Today, the prime minister will kick off his visit by visiting the Siemens Energy plant in Huttenstrabe. The company has invested heavily in Malaysia is currently focusing on renewal energy. The next day, he will meet about 30 captains of industry and potential investors from Europe at a business roundtable meeting.
Anwar will also meet the Malaysian diaspora before attending prayers and Tarawih at Sehitlik Mosque during his stay in the capital.
While in Berlin, the prime minister will have a speaking engagement at Körber Foundation, a non-profit organisation focusing on social and political issues.
He will also visit Hamburg to attend the 101st East Asia Friendship Dinner hosted by the German Asia-Pacific Business Association, where he is scheduled to deliver an address.
Accompanying Anwar during the visit are Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan; Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; and Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
Germany has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner among European Union member countries since 2000, while Malaysia is the largest trading partner for Germany among Asean member states.
In 2023, Malaysia’s total trade with Germany increased by 5.9 per cent to RM63.45 billion (US$13.90 billion) as compared to RM59.87 billion (US$13.62 billion) in 2022.