LONDON, June 2 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has arrived in the United Kingdom (UK) on Sunday to begin a four-day working visit.
He arrived at Heathrow Airport at 8.30pm local time (3.30am Malaysian time) and was greeted by Malaysian High Commissioner to the UK and Northern Ireland Datuk Zakri Jaafar, as well as senior high commission officials and officers from relevant government agencies.
The working visit aims to strengthen Malaysia-UK relations by focusing on areas of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), tourism, and investment.
Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, is expected to meet representatives of leading institutions like University College London, deliver a public lecture on the direction of the country's TVET, and interact with Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA)-sponsored students.
He is scheduled to launch the 'Visit Malaysia Year 2026' campaign for the UK market tomorrow, aiming to boost tourism promotion activities and attract investors from Europe to Malaysia.
The visit will also serve as an essential platform to strengthen the strategic value of the Malaysia-UK relationship, expand diplomatic ties, and open up more opportunities for cooperation for the people and the country.
The UK is a significant trading partner for Malaysia, with total trade reaching RM16.80 billion (approximately US$3.68 billion) in 2024.
On June 4, Zahid will depart for Geneva on a series of international working visits.
— Bernama
