Malaysia Pavilion At Expo 2025 Osaka Showcases Early Gains Of Budget 2026 Vision -- MITI Sec Gen
From Niam Seet Wei
OSAKA, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka showcases the early results of Budget 2026’s fiscal vision, reflecting governance reform, green transition, and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) empowerment on the global stage, says International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) Secretary-General Datuk Hairil Yahri Yaacob.
He said the Pavilion’s achievements, particularly the RM24.45 billion in potential trade and investments, embody the three MADANI pillars outlined in Budget 2026 -- high-value growth, good governance, and inclusive wellbeing.
“In terms of high-value growth, the Pavilion secured RM24.45 billion in potential trade and investments across sectors explicitly named in the Budget.
“The investments involve semiconductors, renewable energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, and the halal industry, which are also targeted under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and the New Industrial Incentive Framework starting in 2026,” he said.
Hairil Yahri told a press conference held in conjunction with the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Pavilion here today.
On good governance, he said the Pavilion’s transparent, multi-agency implementation -- spanning 21 federal ministries with 72 agencies and 10 state governments with 80 agencies -- reflects the fiscal discipline and institutional reforms emphasised under the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) and the Government Procurement Act.
On inclusive wellbeing, particularly SME empowerment, he said Budget 2026 allocates RM50 billion in loan and guarantee facilities and over RM2.5 billion in microfinancing for local entrepreneurs.
“That matches the Pavilion’s effort to connect 462 Malaysian SMEs with global buyers, anchoring Malaysia’s ambition to ‘lift the floor’ through equitable growth,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Datuk Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany said Expo 2025 Osaka is an important platform to reaffirm and deepen Malaysia–Japan relations.
“Japan is already one of Malaysia’s top economic partners, with more than 2,800 Japanese projects implemented in Malaysia, valued at over RM105 billion and creating more than 340,000 jobs.
“This Expo gives us the opportunity to build on that strong foundation,” he said.
Through the Malaysia Pavilion, Shahril Effendi said Malaysia is able to create new avenues of cooperation in semiconductors, renewable energy, the digital economy, and environmental sustainability, all sectors that align with both Malaysia’s national priorities and Japan’s expertise.
“The signing of agreements with Japanese counterparts, including the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)–Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Memorandum of Cooperation, demonstrates that the Expo has directly facilitated stronger institutional linkages and future-oriented projects,” he said.
In his closing remarks earlier today, Hairil Yahri said of the RM24.45 billion in potential trade and investments secured from the Expo, RM6.04 billion came from more than 70 memoranda of understanding, agreements, and cooperation (MoUs, MoAs, MoCs) signed at the event.
The remainder comprises RM5.62 billion in potential exports and RM12.79 billion in potential investments generated from 1,555 business meetings, he said.
The Malaysia Pavilion, spanning 2,654.52 square metres across three floors and themed “Weaving a Future in Harmony,” highlighted Malaysia’s commitment to a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking future.
Also present were Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz and MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Sikh Abdul Majid.
-- BERNAMA
