During its recent three-day business mission to Malaysia, EU-ABC urged Malaysian policymakers to maintain momentum towards a targeted conclusion of the planned FTA in 2027.
Business leaders from the European Union-ASEAN Business Council recently said they want to see a high-quality Malaysia-EU FTA that delivers practical commercial outcomes and strengthens long-term investment and cooperation.
During its recent three-day business mission to Malaysia, EU-ABC urged Malaysian policymakers to maintain momentum towards a targeted conclusion of the planned FTA in 2027.
Backing Malaysia’s economic transformation, the visiting European business leaders called for reforms to attract more high-value investment during meetings with senior economic officials, a release from EU-ABC said.
Executives from nearly 30 European companies met Malaysia’s Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani and Economy Minister Akmal Nasir.
Discussions covered Malaysia’s investment climate and opportunities for European companies to support the country’s key growth sectors, including manufacturing, digital transformation, energy transition and sustainable infrastructure.
“European businesses see considerable opportunities to expand higher-value activities, particularly in areas linked to industrial transformation, digitalisation and energy transition,” said EU-ABC executive director Chris Humphrey.
“A high-quality FTA would ideally cover more than just tariff reductions—it should help reduce regulatory barriers, provide clearer rules, streamline customs procedures, and strengthen investment conditions. The result is a more transparent, predictable and investor-friendly trading environment,” he added.
European businesses also expressed interest in supporting Malaysia’s national economic priorities through investment and public-private partnerships.
Areas discussed included advanced manufacturing, digital transformation and healthcare innovation under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the 13th Malaysia Plan, as well as opportunities to mobilise long-term private capital for projects under the National Energy Transition Roadmap.
The EU is one of Malaysia’s five largest trading partners, with bilateral trade in goods reaching €48.9 billion in 2025.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
