Kuala lumpur: Business leaders from nearly 30 European companies will visit Kuala Lumpur next week to meet Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani and senior government officials, as negotiations on the Malaysia-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) advance towards a targeted conclusion in 2027.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the three-day visit from August 4-6, led by the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC), aims to strengthen trade and investment ties between Malaysia and Europe through in-depth dialogue. European companies are keen to explore investment opportunities across key growth sectors, including artificial intelligence and the digital economy, advanced manufacturing, health and nutrition, clean energy, and sustainable infrastructure.

The EU-ABC stated that the visit coincides with renewed momentum in ASEAN-EU trade relations, as the EU works to conclude FTA negotiations with Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand by next year. Chris Humphrey, EU-ABC executive director, emphasized the strong support of European businesses for concluding the Malaysia-EU FTA negotiations in 2027, reflecting a mutual commitment to elevate bilateral relations and the broader ASEAN-EU relationship.

The delegation will also meet Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. Meetings with officials from the finance and energy ministries, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, and the Customs Department are also on the agenda.

Discussions will focus on Malaysia's trade outlook, easing trade and investment in specific sectors, and identifying opportunities for European businesses to support Malaysia's long-term economic transformation. Humphrey highlighted Europe's investment in Malaysia's future, aiming to boost resilience, economic integration, and prosperity.

The EU is one of Malaysia's five largest trading partners, with bilateral trade in goods reaching £48.9 billion in 2025, comprising £30.3 billion of Malaysian exports to the EU and £18.6 billion of EU exports to Malaysia. Malaysia is also a leading investment destination for the EU, with European investment stock in Malaysia reaching £33.1 billion in 2024.