Addis ababa: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on businesses in both Malaysia and Ethiopia to not waste time anymore but to beef up bilateral trade and investment ties in view of the disruptions and challenges in the international arena.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Prime Minister emphasized that the rapid, complex shifts brought about by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and climate-related challenges have highlighted the importance of reliable partnerships and the need to expedite business linkages. Anwar stated, 'Time has been wasted. Now is the time for nations to stand together to uphold stability, encourage open markets, and pursue inclusive, sustainable growth." He made these remarks at the Ethiopia-Malaysia High Level Business Forum, which was attended by 200 business representatives, including Ethiopian President Taye Atske-Selassie Amde, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Zaliha Mustafa.
Anwar's visit to Ethiopia, his first-ever for three days, aims to bolster bilateral business ties and explore investment partnerships. He urged the private sector to initiate better understanding and collaboration, stating, 'We have brought a very big team here to Addis Ababa, and you are welcome to visit Malaysia, but more importantly, start engaging now in all these fields.'
He further noted that Malaysia and Ethiopia share a common value in economic resilience, emphasizing the necessity of opening up new markets beyond traditional trading nations. Citing Malaysia's success in Latin America, particularly in Brazil with President Lula da Silva, Anwar advocated for multilateral engagement.
The forum's business representatives included 54 Ethiopian companies, with sectors spanning manufacturing, services, and government agencies. Anwar, who also serves as finance minister, highlighted Malaysia's growing economic engagement with Africa in sectors such as telecommunications, aviation, education, agriculture, and energy. He acknowledged Ethiopia's reforms, logistics aspirations, and young workforce as strong foundations for deeper cooperation, identifying high-growth sectors like digital technology, renewable energy, infrastructure development, and Islamic finance as areas of potential collaboration.
Anwar revealed that several Malaysian companies are interested in exploring Ethiopia as a strategic hub for East Africa, reflecting confidence in Ethiopia's growth trajectory. He encouraged Ethiopian companies to partner with Malaysia and explore opportunities within Malaysia, the ASEAN bloc, and the Asia-Pacific region.
As a trading nation, Malaysia remains committed to the rules-based multilateral system and high-standard trade frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Anwar stated that Malaysia aims to expand these frameworks to unlock opportunities through Malaysia-Ethiopia partnerships.
Highlighting Malaysia's transformation agenda driven by the MADANI Economy and the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, Anwar emphasized sustainability in national development. He pointed to renewable energy, energy transition industries, electric mobility, and circular economy initiatives as areas for impactful collaboration between the two nations, suggesting joint ventures and technology exchanges in climate-smart agriculture, clean energy, and green industrialization.