KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will undertake a series of visits to three countries: Italy, France, and Brazil, beginning July 1.
This series of visits by the Prime Minister, beginning with a three-day official visit to Italy starting Tuesday, forms part of Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation at the global level.
Malaysia’s Ambassador to Italy Datuk Zahid Rastam said the Prime Minister’s inaugural visit to Italy is being undertaken at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's invitation.
“This visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy across a wide range of sectors. It also reflects the government’s commitment to exploring new initiatives in trade and investment, as well as cooperation in the fields of defence, energy, and agro-commodities,” he told the press in Malaysia via Google Meet from Rome on Monday.
The Foreign Ministry said Anwar will attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a partner country in the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
Zahid added that during the official visit to Italy, he will be accompanied by five Cabinet ministers: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin, and Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
Also part of the delegation is Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
The Prime Minister will also be accompanied by relevant senior government officials and a corporate delegation comprising representatives from 13 Malaysian companies across various sectors.
Anwar and his delegation are expected to arrive at Fiumicino Airport in Rome at approximately 7.50pm on Tuesday, July 1, and he is scheduled to host an engagement session with the Malaysian diaspora in Italy later that evening.
On Wednesday (July 2), the Prime Minister will participate in a roundtable meeting with leading figures from Italian and Malaysian industries, in an event jointly organised by the governments of Malaysia and Italy known as the Malaysia–Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable.
The ambassador said the roundtable meeting will involve more than 50 companies, associations, and industry representatives from both Malaysia and Italy.
On the same day, Anwar will hold meetings with the Comunita Religiosa Islamica Italiana's (Coreis) vice-president Imam Yahya Pallavicini and the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy and the Mosque of Rome's secretary-general Abdellah Redouane.
On Thursday (July 3), he will be interviewed by Rai News 24, a leading and influential Italian television news network.
In the interview, the Prime Minister is expected to speak on bilateral relations between Malaysia and Italy, trade and investment matters, as well as Malaysia’s role as chair of Asean 2025, he said.
At midday, Anwar is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Meloni at Palazzo Chigi.
During the meeting, both sides will discuss a range of issues encompassing bilateral cooperation in economic sectors like trade and investment, as well as collaboration in defence, renewable energy, the environment, agro-commodities, and the digital sectors.
The discussions will also cover people-to-people cooperation, including education, cultural exchanges, the tourism sector, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, such as the situation in the Middle East.
Zahid noted that the Prime Minister’s visit to Italy is highly significant in reflecting the close ties between the two countries.
During the visit, both leaders will reaffirm their countries’ commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through more comprehensive cooperation.
The visit will provide the mandate and momentum to elevate Malaysia–Italy bilateral relations towards a more strategic partnership in the future.
As a whole, it will serve as a platform for Anwar to articulate Malaysia’s foreign policy, particularly the country’s stands on regional and global issues on the international stage, while also highlighting Malaysia’s current Asean chairmanship.
In 2024, total trade between Malaysia and Italy amounted to RM14.61 billion, with Malaysian exports to Italy valued at RM6.71 billion and imports from Italy totalling RM7.89 billion. Overall, Italy is Malaysia’s fifth-largest trading partner among European countries.
— Bernama
