KENYAN BUSINESSES TO GET SPECIAL TREATMENT - PM ANWAR

From M. Saraswathi

NAIROBI, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- Kenyan businesses will get special treatment from Malaysia on the grounds of friendship as well as the immense potential for trade between both countries, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

The government will remain as the core facilitator for trade and investment flows to prosper, but it is for the businesses to take the lead, he told a packed Malaysia-Kenya High Level Business Forum here. 

“The companies from Kenya should take the lead. There are areas that you excel at that we should benefit and learn from. There are areas we are good at and we share that with you, and that should be the new arrangement,” he said.

He added that such expansion in trade, investment and knowledge is vital to ensure the success of an economy. “(We) cannot purely depend on our traditional economic ability. Neither should we depend on our traditional market access,” said Anwar, who is also the finance minister. 

Also present during the forum were Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and the principal secretary for investment promotion in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar

In 2024, Kenya emerged as Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, with total trade reaching RM5.7 billion, an increase of 1.2 per cent from RM5.51 billion in the preceding year.

Anwar highlighted that Malaysia is deeply rooted in the rules-based multilateral system and actively participates in high-standard trade frameworks, while continuously expanding its network of trade agreements. 

“These platforms offer significant advantages, greater market access, predictable trading rules, and competitive investment conditions that can be unlocked through strengthened Malaysia-Kenya economic partnerships,” he pointed out.

He noted that Malaysia’s focus on sustainable development, regional integration, and inclusive progress aligns closely with the African Union’s transformative Agenda 2063.  Kenya, as a leading voice in the region and a strong advocate for Africa’s development priorities, plays an essential role in realising these shared aspirations, he added.

The success of Malaysian companies already present in Kenya reflects the confidence Malaysian businesses have in Kenya’s growth trajectory and investment environment.

“We warmly welcome Kenyan companies, investors, and innovators to partner with Malaysia to explore opportunities not only in Malaysia, but also throughout ASEAN and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Let Malaysia be the bridge that connects Africa’s immense potential with Asia’s rapidly expanding economic landscape,” said Anwar.

-- BERNAMA