Russia Seeks To Deepen Trade, Economic Cooperation With Malaysia -- Ambassador

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- Russia is seeking to deepen trade and economic cooperation with Malaysia, particularly in the electronics and semiconductor sectors, which Moscow considers strategically important amid global supply-chain shifts.

Russian Ambassador to Malaysia Naiyl Latypov said Malaysia is viewed as a key and reliable trading partner in ASEAN, noting that overall Russia–ASEAN trade stands at about US$22 billion (US$1=RM4.11) annually.

He said Malaysia’s position as a major global producer of microchips, electronic components and palm oil has made it an essential partner for Russian industries.

bootstrap slideshow

“During the pandemic, we relied heavily on Malaysian semiconductor supplies. Our automotive producers, including Russia’s largest manufacturers, faced difficulties during the global chip shortages. Malaysia played a very important role in stabilising that supply,” he told a media briefing on Wednesday.

While Moscow remains interested to increase imports of Malaysian semiconductors and electronic components, the ambassador acknowledged that international sanctions and compliance concerns continue to pose challenges for companies on both sides.

He stressed that Russia does not want Malaysian partners to face any risk of penalties and that all cooperation must remain “mutually beneficial and safe”.

bootstrap slideshow

Latypov said Russia continues to import palm oil, electronic equipment and components from Malaysia, with considerable room for further expansion. He added that Russian companies are now exploring new areas of technological and industrial collaboration with Malaysia.

“We are confident that there is significant potential to expand bilateral trade, especially in high-tech industries. Malaysia has strong capabilities in semiconductors, and our companies are of course interested. But we also want to ensure that this cooperation does not create any difficulties for our Malaysian partners,” he said.

Latypov said that Russia is prepared to pursue new economic initiatives with Malaysia despite external constraints, emphasising that both countries stand to benefit from diversifying trade and strengthening supply-chain resilience.

“We value Malaysia as a trusted partner in the region, and we hope that trade between our two countries will continue to grow,” he added.

Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Russia remains significant and continues to grow, reaching approximately US$3.5 billion as of September 2025. Russia is currently Malaysia’s ninth-largest trading partner among European nations.

-- BERNAMA