Malaysian High Commission Islamabad on Following up Prime Ministers’ Agreements on Leap Forward in Trade & Investments

Tazeen Akhtar

Pakistan Malaysia are working on to take a leap forward on bilateral collaboration in all sectors including increase in trade and investments, industry, economy, defense, education etc. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Malaysia soon on the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. It will be a reciprocal visit that will further cement the cooperation discussed in recent high level visit on 02-04 Oct this year.

High Commissioner of Malaysia , H.E Mohammad Azhar Mazlan hosted the Captains of Pakistan industry at the High Commission on 07 Nov on dinner to keep going with the spirit and understanding developed in meeting between the two Prime Ministers. He termed the outcome of the visit as encouraging with 2 G-to-G and 4 B-to-B MoUs.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim,in his visit to Pakistan, expressed optimism about the future of Pakistan-Malaysia relations saying “The time is ripe.” He stressed the need to utilize the untapped potential of trade and economic collaboration with Pakistan in diverse areas including minerals, new energy resources, food, industry, and information technology.

Presidents of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce FPCCI,Islamabad Stock Exchange, Rawalpindi CCI, Vice President of Islamabad CCI, Business leaders from other cities were present in the dinner. The High Commissioner shared his notes about the visit and engagements of his Prime Minister with the business leaders and invited them to share their suggestions to keep going with follow ups of the agreed points between two Prime Ministers.

The team members of the High Commissioner were also present at the occasion. He introduced them to the business leaders. He also mentioned about the trade office in Karachi. He said that any query from the Pakistani industrialists, businessmen is received in the High Commission and if needed , sent to our Karachi office and responded accordingly.

Pakistan-Malaysia Agree to Strengthen Bilateral Economic Cooperation, Enhance trade, Remove Barriers in Key Sectors

The High Commissioner screened a documentary explaining the opportunities of investments,National Trade Blue Print, 5 year Programs, Public Private Partnership policies, Export Promotion initiatives, Business Matching, Networking, Local Market and Global Supply Chain of Malaysia.

Business leaders were engaged in an interactive session in which they asked questions and shared their feedback, suggestions. The High Commissioner welcomed their opinion and expressed his views on the deliberations.

H.E Mazlan apprised them, ” Both countries will review FTA in followup of the Prime Ministers’ meeting. Our Minister Investment met with Pakistani counterpart during the PM’s visit. Now Minister Commerce Pakistan Jam Kamal Khan will visit Malaysia to further finalize the matter.”

The High Commissioner said,” We are here to connect the dots as how Pakistan is looking forward to enhance the bilateral cooperation and what Malaysia intends to gain from mutual partnership. Malaysian companies are ready for collaboration in energy, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, information technology.”

Pakistan in the World – Sep / Oct 2024

Pakistan is among top 10 Palm Oil importing countries from Malaysia that imported $299.9 million worth of palm oil and its fractions in 2023. The two PMs agreed that Pakistan would export halal meat worth $200 million annually, along with 100,000 metric tonnes of Basmati rice to Malaysia.

The High Commissioner said, ” Malaysia intends to increase the export of value added palm oil to Pakistan. Halal industry is a major sector to boost bilateral trade. Malaysia is a hub in Halal market of the world. During corona , in food crisis, Malaysia imported Chicken from Australia and Brazil that are far away while Pakistan has big poultry industry, near to Malaysia.”

H.E Mazlan noted that the present trade volume ( $1.4 USD ) does not reflect the real potential both countries have. ” We have conducive policies for trade and investments. There are 5,10,25 years program and continuity in the policies. Malaysia is investment central country where you can bring your profit back. We are among 26 trading nations of the world.”

Pakistan and Malaysia Sign Four Key MoUs to Boost Trade Relations

The High Commissioner shared , ” Pakistan in South Asia is at third position on trade with Malaysia. India $10 B and Bangladesh on $5/6 B are at 1 and 2 number. Our next target with India is $20 B. Therefore Pakistan and Malaysia are supposed to make a big leap forward. For that Pakistani businessmen are required to change their minds and see Malaysia as their next destination.”

“Malaysia has joint ventures with hawk semi conductors , microsoft, seimenz Germany. China is big partner of both countries. Pakistan is on CPEC while Malaysia is on BRI. Both countries can move forward working upon this commonality as well, H.E Mazlan continued.

To the questions by this scribe about opening of Malaysian universities’ campuses in Pakistan like Turkish education systems are working here, and about declaration of twin cities in both countries according to the specialties of the cities, H.E Mazlan replied;

” It is good idea and the campuses of our universities can be opened in Pakistan after having MoU on higher education that does not exist by now. But Malaysia is already working upon open university concept in which our universities have collaboration with NUST, Bahria and Faisalabad University. The exchanges of faculties and the students are going on. 5 thousand Pakistanis are already studying in Malaysia. Our country is center of Education. We have more than 100 thousand foreign students. Malaysia is safe country for the girls students as well. Our universities have collaboration with renown universities of Australia, UK and USA. It is thriving sector in our country. Our Petronas oil company opened a University in which training is given on oil exploration and other related sectors. The company has invested $10 B for that purpose.”

“On twin cities , Malaysia imposed moratorium because this arrangement did not produce any result in the past with some cities (not Pakistani). The ban can be reviewed if the results are positive and productive. For that Islamabad Putrajaya and Lahore Kuala lumpur can be considered for twin cities.”

Malaysia is the Most Promising Market for Pakistani Investors – PM’s Visit to Open New Chapter of Bilateral Cooperation : H.C Azhar Mazlan

The High Commissioner also touched the collaboration in defense sector. He said that the uniforms for our soldiers are prepared in Pakistan. We are cooperating in jet engine manufacturing as well. He added that Malaysia will be aerospace hub in the region soon. We are building aerospace city.

On Pakistanis living in Malaysia, the High Commissioner is always positive about their role in his country. He said that 200 thousand Pakistanis are living in our country. They are playing their productive role in our society and industry.

On direct connectivity, the High Commissioner mentioned direct flights everyday from Lahore and Karachi. Now Air Asia considering to start flights for Skardu via Karachi. He shared that our tourist visit Gilgit Baltistan in large number. Recently our tourists visited Hunza and held a workshop there.

Malaysia is the Chair of Association of South East Asian Nations ASEAN. H.E Mazlan adding to the importance and benefits of connecting with Malaysia as the gateway to this market of 670 million population said that Pakistan has request to be full dialogue partner of this large emerging market. He said that both countries can work together on this subject.

It is worth noting here that in the visit of PM Anwar Ibrahim, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in processing of halal products. The Pakistan side offered to increase export of halal meat to Malaysia to meet their demand. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif gave proposal of increasing export of Halal meat from Pakistan to Malaysia to 200 Million USD per annum.

Pakistan in the World – October 2024