Kuala lumpur: Malaysia sees Ethiopia as a strategic gateway for the country’s products to enter the African market, stated Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. In a recent post on X, Tengku Zafrul highlighted the outcomes of a meeting between the Malaysian delegation, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali. The discussions between the two leaders resulted in an agreement to strengthen the bilateral trade relationship between their respective countries.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tengku Zafrul emphasized Ethiopia’s strategic position for Malaysian products targeting the African continent, while noting Malaysia’s role as a gateway for Ethiopian products to penetrate the ASEAN market. He pointed out that the main areas of cooperation between Malaysia and Ethiopia include the halal industry, which presents significant opportunities for Malaysian halal food and beverage exports, in addition to other products such as palm oil.

Tengku Zafrul also mentioned the exploration of import opportunities for high-quality Ethiopian products, including coffee, oilseeds, and horticultural products. He reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry to support the enhancement of this bilateral trade relationship.