Kuala lumpur: Export Finance Australia (EFA) and Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (EXIM Bank Malaysia) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation and creating new investment opportunities across Southeast Asia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the strategic collaboration will involve exploring co-financing and risk-sharing arrangements for projects of mutual interest. These projects span infrastructure development, energy transition, digital economy, education, and healthcare. The partnership will also provide a framework for knowledge exchange in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration, risk management, and product innovation.
The joint statement from both parties emphasized that this partnership aligns with Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 and Malaysia’s national development agendas, including the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, National Energy Transition Roadmap, the 13th Malaysia Plan, and the MADANI Economic framework.
The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit 2025, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Australia. Both parties stressed that the MoU enhances EFA’s role in supporting the Australian government’s implementation of the Invested strategy.
EFA has financing specialists stationed in Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam as part of the Investment Deal Teams initiative, and it manages the AU$2 billion Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility. These efforts aim to identify and support key infrastructure projects, facilitating trade and investment for Australian businesses in Southeast Asia.
Looking forward, EXIM Bank Malaysia plans to operationalize the MoU next year through targeted programs like the RM500 million Skim Eksport Lonjakan and the Malaysia Global Connect Go Export Cover Programme. These initiatives are designed to accelerate joint opportunities and attract private investment. EXIM Bank Malaysia currently holds exposure of over RM181 million to Australia, providing a solid base for future collaboration.
EFA’s managing director and CEO, John Hopkins, stated that the agreement marks a significant step in advancing Invested 2040 by strengthening ties with regional export credit agencies to unlock new investment opportunities.
EXIM Bank Malaysia’s president and CEO, Datuk Nurbayu Kasim Chang, expressed the bank’s commitment to enhancing regional trade and investment, supporting sustainable development, and fostering economic resilience and shared prosperity throughout Southeast Asia. She highlighted that this partnership aligns with Malaysia’s economic frameworks and aims to expand the country’s global trade footprint.