By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The Nordic countries have voiced strong support for Malaysia’s green transition agenda, ready to leverage their decades of experience in sustainability, circular economy, and climate innovation as both sides deepen cooperation in environmental and economic spheres.
This was affirmed by ambassadors of Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland to Malaysia, underscoring their shared commitment to collaborate with Malaysia in advancing green initiatives and fostering sustainable economic growth.
Advancing Malaysia’s Sustainability Goals
Sweden’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Niklas Wiberg, said the Nordic region brings decades of experience in climate action and sustainable innovation, with Nordic companies already contributing actively in Malaysia.
“Our embassies and companies have built up knowledge and production capacity in the green sector over the past 30 years. We’re ready to support Malaysia’s next steps.
“The plans and targets are clear; what matters now is implementation,” he told Bernama in an interview during the Nordic Day 2025 celebration held here, recently.
Norwegian Ambassador Morten Paulsen highlighted the importance of shared responsibility in building a circular economy, noting that technology alone is not enough.
“It’s also about education and culture. There’s a sense of community responsibility in how we manage waste and resources. That’s where we can offer not just technology, but also social and educational models,” he said.
Public-Private Synergy Driving Green Initiatives
Speaking to Bernama at the same event, Danish Ambassador Kirstine Vangkilde Berner highlighted the value of building strong public-private partnerships, saying Denmark’s recently reopened embassy in Malaysia is focusing heavily on green commercial initiatives.
“Malaysia has strong ambitions and very good sustainability plans in place. Our role is to bring relevant actors together, government, industry, and civil society, to co-create solutions,” she said.
For Finnish Ambassador Anne Vasara, cooperation on the circular economy stands out, as Finland was the first country to launch a national circular economy roadmap in 2016.
She noted Finland’s role in the upcoming ASEAN Circular Economy Forum in Kuala Lumpur this October, organised in part through Finland’s Innovation Fund, Sitra.
“We’re happy to bring Nordic and EU expertise to the table, not only ideas and policy frameworks, but also readiness to support Malaysia through platforms like the ASEAN Circular Economy Forum,” she said.
On aligning Nordic environmental technologies with Malaysia’s national strategies, the ambassadors said both regions share the same climate goals, though timelines may differ.
“Malaysia is targeting net-zero by 2050, while Nordic companies often aim for 2030. This creates room for shared learning and acceleration,” said Wiberg, adding that Malaysia’s interest in reducing plastic waste aligns closely with EU and Nordic commitments.
Vasara also noted that mutual learning is key, adding that: “We can bring a lot to the table, but we also see areas where we can learn from Malaysia’s experiences.”
EU-Malaysia FTA to Bolster Cooperation Beyond Trade
The ambassadors also stressed the importance of the EU-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a mechanism to strengthen not only economic ties but also environmental cooperation.
“This is a big issue. It’s important not just for trade but for reinforcing the values of free and fair trade globally.
“A successful FTA would show that economic growth and sustainability can go hand in hand,” said Wiberg.
Paulsen noted that Norway, although not an EU member, is concluding its own economic agreement with Malaysia with strong provisions on sustainability. “It’s encouraging to see sustainability becoming a core part of trade agreements,” he said.
In another development, the Nordic ambassadors highlighted the growing interest of Nordic businesses in Malaysia, especially in the green and digital sectors.
“Many Nordic companies have operated in Malaysia for decades, and more are moving regional hubs here due to ease of business and talent availability,” said Berner.
Vasara highlighted that Finland will soon send a business delegation focused on tech and sustainability. “Interest is growing, and we see a very positive trajectory,” she said.
Strengthening Regional Partnerships Under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship
With Malaysia as chair of ASEAN this year, the Nordic countries have expressed hope to play a larger role in supporting regional climate initiatives.
“Green shipping is a priority for us in this region,” Paulsen said, adding that Norway, a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN, is focusing on clean maritime solutions.
The Swedish Ambassador noted that Sweden and Finland are signatories to ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), while the EU is pushing closer ties with ASEAN through energy cooperation, including support for the ASEAN Power Grid initiative.
“We have a fully integrated electricity market in the Nordics. That experience could be useful for ASEAN’s ambitions,” he said.
Vasara said Finland is also actively involved in regional circular economy forums.
“We’re really looking forward to co-organising the ASEAN Circular Economy Forum in Kuala Lumpur this year,” she said.
Nordic Day is an annual celebration organised by the embassies of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland to highlight Nordic values and strengthen cooperation with host country particularly in areas such as sustainability, innovation, and regional partnership.
-- BERNAMA
