KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia appreciates Egypt’s efforts in supporting the country’s participation as a partner country of BRICS, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said this during a courtesy call on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace (Heliopolis) in Cairo, Egypt, today, adding that in addition to BRICS, his meeting with Abdel Fattah also touched on various matters aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar elaborated on the discussions, highlighting that opportunities were explored across key sectors such as investment, trade, palm oil, the halal industry, education, tourism, health, and the development of natural resources and renewable energy. Anwar expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s support in Malaysia’s participation in BRICS, underscoring a shared commitment to fostering greater economic collaboration and sustainable development.

Anwar, who also serves as Malaysia’s finance minister, is
currently on a four-day official visit to Egypt. On October 24, Malaysia was recognized as a BRICS partner country, joining alongside 12 other nations, including Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Anwar had previously expressed Malaysia’s desire to join BRICS during a discussion with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on June 18 this year.

BRICS, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, was established in 2009 as a cooperation platform for rapidly developing economies. South Africa joined the bloc in 2010, and it later expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The BRICS group represents about 40 percent of the global population and contributes a cumulative gross domestic product (GDP) of US$26.6 trillion, or 26.2 percent, to world GDP, almost equaling the economic strength of the Group of Seven (G7) countries.