Kuala lumpur: Brazil is eyeing a potential collaboration with ASEAN to boost biofuel production, aiming to reduce reliance on other energy-producing countries and accelerate decarbonisation efforts, according to President Luiz In¡cio Lula da Silva.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lula stated that biofuels represent a cost-effective and rapidly deployable solution for decarbonising a wide range of sectors, from light vehicles to aviation and maritime transport. The potential of biofuels to reduce emissions makes them a key component of the global clean energy transition.
Lula emphasized the immense potential for expanding collaboration with Southeast Asia. He suggested that together they could create global biofuel markets based on sustainability parameters developed by the Global South, instead of standards imposed by richer countries. He made these remarks during the Leader Fireside Chat session at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2025, which was moderated by ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Indonesia chairman Anindya Novyan Bakrie.
The event coincided with the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, taking place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Lula extended an invitation to ASEAN countries to participate in the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP 30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in Belem, Brazil, from November 10-21, 2025. He expressed hope that ASEAN countries would contribute to this definitive moment, emphasizing the need for global leaders to adopt declarations with practical propositions and a road map to increase climate financing to USD1.3 trillion.
Furthermore, Lula highlighted Brazil's new collaboration with Malaysia in a semiconductor programme, which aims to incentivise the sector through financing and tax breaks for Brazilian and Malaysian researchers. The partnership will focus on the development of new materials for manufacturing chips, with Brazilian and Malaysian companies collaborating on the implementation of semiconductor plants in the south of Brazil.
Lula was among the high-profile leaders attending the opening ceremony of the summit, hosted by Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair 2025, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Today marks the second day of Lula's three-day official visit to Malaysia from October 25 to 27, 2025. This visit is Lula's first official trip to the country since returning to office in January 2023.