MALAYSIA, BRAZIL SIGN MEMORANDUM TO COOPERATE IN SEMICONDUCTOR SECTOR - LIEW

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) – Malaysia will sign a memorandum of cooperation with Brazil in the semiconductor sector and hold negotiations with India to strengthen technological and industrial collaboration between both countries, said Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong today.

The move is in line with the MADANI government's direction and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's aspiration to enhance trade relations with developing countries, including BRICS member nations and the African continent.

According to him, the Prime Minister is scheduled to make an official visit to Africa this November to strengthen economic ties with the region.

“In this context, we also have good relations with Bangladesh and Pakistan. We can enhance ties with these markets and establish relationships that go beyond exports — we can have technological collaboration between us,” Liew said

in response to a supplementary question from Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (PN-Kubang Pasu) on the ministry's strategies to diversify trade with BRICS countries and the African continent.

According to Liew, the strategy is crucial to ensure Malaysia does not become overly dependent on traditional markets such as the United States.

“We may have to accept the fact that our reliance on the US as an export destination may decline one day. We, therefore, need new markets and commercial partners,” he said.

He said the ministry has also focused on strengthening regional supply chains, especially in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, to ensure long-term economic resilience.

“In the past, many said we were competing with Vietnam or other countries, but now we are ensuring that the ecosystem and supply networks in ASEAN are being strengthened.

“In the context of semiconductors under ASEAN leadership, we are establishing a framework for semiconductor supply chains beyond ASEAN countries so we can reinforce the supply chains in our country and throughout the region,” he said.

Liew added that the ministry is also implementing various strategies to ensure Malaysia's economic resilience and competitiveness, including diversifying trading partners and investors via regional trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the European Free Trade Association.

— BERNAMA