PM ANWAR’S MISSION TO BOOST ASEAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT AS CHAIR OF ASEAN

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s mission is to enhance ASEAN trade and investment, which he believes are currently insufficient, as Malaysia prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2025.

To this end, Anwar said he would dedicate his efforts to zoom in on empowering the ASEAN Power Grid and push further for common digitalisation among regional economies.

He would also dedicate his efforts as chair of the regional grouping to bolster ties with ASEAN’s traditional allies comprising the economic giants of China, Japan and South Korea.

These initiatives would be his prime focus to make Southeast Asia a more vibrant economic region, the prime minister said in his special address at Seoul National University today.

Anwar said that such an approach was imperative as ASEAN happens to be the most peaceful and dynamic economic region in the world for which its economic potential should be fully realised.

Against such a backdrop, he said that it is timely that Malaysia is assuming the ASEAN chairmanship next year as it would be well-placed to bolster regional trade and investments.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the collaboration and the working relations between the 10 ASEAN leaders are also excellent, something which is advantageous to making collective decisions and taking commercial linkages to a significantly higher plane.

In working with China, Japan and South Korea, he said South Korea is an important traditional ally and that Seoul has done enormously well and is known to every single household. 

Anwar highlighted that with more engagements with these three countries based on friendship and trust, the more ASEAN would be able to deal with more complex issues. 

Noting that Malaysia is fortunate to host major international companies such as Oracle, AWS, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Infineon, the country has become a hub for their business activities.

This has enabled Malaysia to establish itself as a regional centre for data and artificial intelligence (AI).

In addition, this is positioning Malaysia as a key hub for the global semiconductor sector.

“Our advantages have got us to economically engage with all countries (such as) the United States, Europe, China, South Korea and Japan,” he said. 

-- BERNAMA