Kuala Lumpur: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof is set to embark on a diplomatic mission to Uzbekistan and Russia beginning this Friday, aimed at strengthening bilateral economic relations and exploring partnerships in the energy and high technology sectors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this visit marks Fadillah’s first official engagement with both countries as deputy prime minister. The itinerary from June 20-28 includes meetings with high-level government leaders and bilateral discussions. Fadillah will conduct site visits to strategic facilities, including energy infrastructure and innovation hubs in both countries.
Fadillah’s visit to Uzbekistan seeks to build on the foundations laid during Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s earlier visit to Malaysia. In Tashkent, Fadillah, also Malaysia’s Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, is scheduled to meet President Mirziyoyev and hold a bilateral meeting with Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov. This is part of Malaysia’s effort to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector.
According to the programme schedule released by the Ministry of Energy, Transition and Water Transformation (Petra), Fadillah will also deliver the keynote address at the Malaysia-Uzbekistan Business Forum 2025. This forum serves as a platform to connect Malaysian and Uzbek businesses. Malaysia-Uzbekistan trade reached RM369.8 million (US$80.9 million) in 2024, positioning Uzbekistan as Malaysia’s second-largest trading partner in Central Asia. The trade balance favors Malaysia at RM360.3 million (US$78.9 million), with major exports including palm oil and processed foods, while imports from Uzbekistan primarily consist of fertilizers, fruits, and textiles.
During his visit to Russia starting June 24, Fadillah will hold a bilateral meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. A significant aspect of the visit will be the signing of a non-disclosure agreement between MyPower Corp and Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom. Fadillah is also scheduled to visit Rosatom’s nuclear energy facilities in St Petersburg as Malaysia evaluates the potential of nuclear energy as part of its long-term energy transition plan towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
The visit aligns with Malaysia’s evolving energy diplomacy. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s state visit to Russia in May 2025 resulted in commitments from Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue joint ventures in natural gas and peaceful nuclear energy, including expanding Petronas’s involvement in Russia. Diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Russia were established in 1967.
In 2024, Russia ranked as Malaysia’s ninth-largest trading partner among European countries, with total trade reaching RM11.46 billion (US$2.48 billion). Malaysia’s key exports to Russia included electrical and electronics products, machinery, equipment and parts, and processed foods.