BERLIN: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, revealed that new investment interests arising from the roundtable and one-on-one meetings with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Berlin are worth a potential RM45.4bil. The potential investments include new projects, as well as expansion and diversification projects in industries such as semiconductors, aerospace, medical devices, chemicals, and services.
A total of 38 captains of industry and businesses from German cities like Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt, as well as from Belgium and France, attended the meetings with Anwar. He also had one-on-one meetings with officials from companies like X-Fab, Melexis, Infineon Technologies AG, Schott AG, and Airbus.
During the meetings, Anwar assured German businesses that Malaysia remains a top choice for investors due to its business-friendly environment. Companies from various sectors like energy, medical devices, semiconductors, electronics, machinery, automotive, and aerospace showed interest in investing in Malaysia.
Tengku Zafrul highlighted that X-Fab, Melexis, and Schott are set to begin operations soon, with approved investments amounting to RM4.45bil. Meanwhile, Infineon is on track to build the world’s largest 200mm SiC power fab in Kulim, emphasizing their commitment to Malaysia and the fight against climate change.
Key figures from companies like Siemens AG, B. Braun GmbH, Melexis, Airbus, and Volkswagen Group Malaysia attended the meetings with Anwar. Representatives from various chambers of commerce and government agencies were also present to facilitate further collaboration and investment opportunities.
Germany has been Malaysia’s largest trading partner in the EU since 2000, with over 700 German companies operating in Malaysia, creating 65,000 jobs. Malaysia, on the other hand, is Germany’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, with the total trade between the two countries reaching RM63.45bil in 2023, marking a 5.9% increase from the previous year. – Bernama
