Anwar's Germany Visit Achieves Objectives, Strengthens Ties - Analyst

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent official visit to Germany has successfully strengthened the existing close and cordial relations between Malaysia and Germany and brought high investment potential to the country.

Universiti Utara Malaysia deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said Anwar's roundtable business meetings with captains of industry and top companies from Germany and Europe would guarantee the continuous growth of foreign investments in Malaysia, thereby making the country a global trading hub in the Southeast Asian region.

"For instance, Malaysia has secured new potential investments worth RM45.4 billion from seven European companies for a period of five to ten years, while projects under X-Fab, Melexis, and Schott Glass approved in 2023 with a total investment of RM4.45 billion are expected to generate 1,000 job opportunities for Malaysians.

"Moreover, Airbus is prepared to buy products and services in the aerospace sector worth RM1.4 billion in the next five years,” he said in a statement today.

Anwar's official visit to Germany from March 10 to 15 included, among others, bilateral meetings with his counterpart, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, German Vice Chancellor and Economy and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck, and a courtesy call on German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Mohd Azizuddin said Malaysia is Germany's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, with bilateral trade valued at RM63.5 billion in 2023, and there are over 700 German companies based in Malaysia.

He said the trade value in the Straits of Melaka amounted to US$3.5 trillion and the passage of over 80,000 merchant vessels has attracted German interest in Malaysia, driven by the political and economic stability in the country.

Regarding the relationship between Germany and Malaysia with China, Mohd Azizuddin said: "Considering the issue of dependency on China, Germany seeks to address this dependence by strengthening its external relations with other countries, including Malaysia."

The international relations expert also said that the Prime Minister's visit to Germany has attracted attention and sparked global discourse, as Anwar defended Palestine and criticised the Western hypocrisy regarding the warfare in Gaza and the mass killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli regime's military.

"This is a rare act of courage carried out by a leading figure of the country, who then becomes a spokesperson for the Islamic world and oppressed communities.

"Regarding the situation in Gaza, although the stances of these two countries differ, both sides agree on the permanent ceasefire implementation, the urgent need for continuous humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, and the two-state solution,” he said.

Regarding Anwar's agreement to join the Climate Club upon Chancellor Scholz's invitation, Mohd Azizuddin said it aligns with Malaysia's agenda, especially concerning green technology, and he is confident that this participation can be beneficial for technology transfer and capacity development for Malaysian citizens.

"This will bolster Malaysia's profile in climate action efforts and commitments to fulfil responsibilities under the Paris Agreement, as well as expand cooperation in TVET, higher education, climate change, renewable energy, and the small and medium-sized enterprise sector," he said.

He added that the close Malaysia-Germany cooperation also focuses on higher education cooperation in Malaysia, which has witnessed over 114 cooperation agreements between universities of both countries, particularly in the fields of science and technology.

Mohd Azizuddin said the two countries' close cooperation has resulted in the establishment of various double degree, dual degree, and joint degree programmes, as well as exchanges of students and academic staff.

-- BERNAMA