Istanbul: Malaysia and Turkiye have agreed to strengthen cooperation in strategic industries by leveraging their respective strengths in the defence, energy, and high-technology sectors, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister highlighted Turkiye's advanced technologies in defence and aerospace, noting, "You (Turkiye) have your strengths, for example, the strongest in the defence industry. including (in) drones," at a roundtable meeting with Turkish industry leaders.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, both countries aim for synergy in new technologies such as artificial intelligence by banking on Malaysia's strength in energy, semiconductors, and electrical and electronics (E and E). Anwar emphasized Malaysia's leading role in the region for semiconductor and E and E, with major investments from the United States.
Anwar stated that the industrial synergy would open doors to strategic cooperation in new technology development, knowledge transfer, and regional market expansion. The combination of Turkiye's strengths in defence, construction, and manufacturing, with Malaysia's advantages in high technology and energy, forms a solid foundation for long-term cooperation.
The Prime Minister stressed that this collaboration enhances bilateral trade and investment value and reinforces Malaysia and Turkiye's roles as strategic regional hubs. The cooperation will be driven through active private sector engagement, industrial partnerships, and joint investments, promising high economic returns for both countries.
Following the meeting, Anwar mentioned that close cooperation between Malaysian and Turkish companies would catalyze rapid growth in trade, investment, and technology transfer, strengthening economic fundamentals. He invited Turkish companies to expand their presence in Malaysia, leveraging its stable investment ecosystem and strategic position in the ASEAN market.
The roundtable meeting featured 46 Turkish companies, including key players like Defence Technologies Engineering and Trade Inc (STM), Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc (TAI), and ASELSAN. Organized by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the meeting was also attended by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani and seven Malaysian companies.
Earlier, Anwar arrived in Istanbul and is scheduled to participate in several programmes before returning home following his three-day official visit at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Malaysia's trade with Turkiye from January to November 2025 reached RM21.2 billion (US$4.92 billion), with Turkiye continuing as an important economic partner. In 2024, Turkiye was Malaysia's third-largest trading partner among West Asian countries, with total trade valued at RM24.15 billion (US$5.28 billion).