PETALING JAYA: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has extended an invitation to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to visit Brazil later this year as the South American powerhouse seeks to strengthen partnerships in the semiconductor industry with Malaysia. The Brazilian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur issued a statement on Feb 9, stating that the Brazilian president expressed interest in collaborating with Malaysia, particularly in the semiconductor sector. Malaysia is home to six of the world’s 12 largest semiconductor companies.
According to the embassy, President Lula and Anwar also discussed the potential for a visit by the Malaysian Prime Minister to Brazil at the end of the year, close to the G20 Summit set to take place in Rio de Janeiro in November. They held talks on expanding trade relations between the two countries, as well as the joint efforts in addressing inequality, and hunger.
The two leaders also voiced their support for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Gaza and Israel, while stressing the need for reform in the global governance system. Anwar commended Brazil’s initiatives on the international stage to tackle social issues, lauding the country’s presidency at the G20. He thanked Brazil for its assistance in seeking a peaceful resolution for the Palestinian people and other matters in the Global South, the embassy reported.
Highlighting the significant energy partnership between Malaysia and Brazil, the embassy noted that Malaysia’s national oil company, Petronas, has invested over R$24bil (RM23.09bil) in Brazil. This represents a crucial area of collaboration between the two countries.
