Malaysia Has High Potential For Enhanced Cooperation In Japan's Strategic Fields: Ambassador

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has strong potential to expand cooperation in nearly all 17 strategic fields outlined in Japan’s Takaichi administration Growth Strategy, which aims to revitalise the country’s economy, Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Noriyuki Shikata, said.

He emphasised that the visions of Japan and Malaysia are closely aligned.

“Prime Minister (Sanae) Takaichi’s concept of 'Growth Strategy' is closely aligned with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s 'MADANI' vision of sustainability, prosperity, and innovation,” Shikata said in his opening remarks at the New Japan-Malaysia Industrial Partnership Seminar on Tuesday.

He noted, for example, that in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, Penang has established itself as a global hub for back-end processing, earning the nickname “Silicon Valley of the East”.

The ambassador said as Japan advances efforts to revitalise its semiconductor industry, including the Rapidus project, the country seeks to further upgrade collaboration with Malaysia in semiconductor-related human resource development and supply chain integration.

Shikata noted that Malaysia has long been a trusted leading supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, providing about 15 per cent of the country’s LNG imports today.

“When Japan was hit by Great East Japan Quake in 2011, Petronas announced it was increasing LNG supplies by arranging additional LNG cargoes to help address the sudden surge in demand in Japan,” he said. 

On rare earths, Shikata highlighted Malaysia’s critical role in refining, which accounts for the world’s second-largest share after China.

“Lynas, a major rare earth refining company based in Malaysia, is supported by investments from the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) and Japanese trading company Sojitz, contributing significantly to supply chain resilience by reducing dependence on specific countries,” Shikata said.

He also pointed to the potential of Green Transformation (GX).

“By combining Japan’s advanced green technologies with Malaysia’s resources, such as ammonia production using Sarawak’s abundant hydroelectric power and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), we can accelerate the transition to a decarbonised society,” he stated.

The ambassador said Japan is committed to further catalysing these efforts through the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) framework to achieve the “net zero” shared goal while ensuring energy security and sustainable economic growth across the region.

“I am confident that by leveraging our respective strengths across diverse fields -- from food security and cybersecurity to the Halal industry, content industry such as ACG (Anime, Comic & Game), healthcare, and disaster management -- we can create significant new value for both our nations,” he added.

-- BERNAMA