Osaka: The Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka showcases the early results of Budget 2026’s fiscal vision, reflecting governance reform, green transition, and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) empowerment on the global stage, says International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) Secretary-General Datuk Hairil Yahri Yaacob.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Pavilion’s achievements, particularly the RM24.45 billion in potential trade and investments, embody the three MADANI pillars outlined in Budget 2026-high-value growth, good governance, and inclusive wellbeing. The Pavilion secured this substantial amount in potential trade and investments across sectors explicitly named in the Budget, including semiconductors, renewable energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence innovation, and the halal industry. These sectors are also targeted under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the National Energy Transition Roadmap, and the New Industrial Incentive Framework starting in 2026.
During a press conference held in conjunction with the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Pavilion, Hairil Yahri highlighted the Pavilion’s transparent, multi-agency implementation spanning 21 federal ministries with 72 agencies and 10 state governments with 80 agencies. This reflects the fiscal discipline and institutional reforms emphasised under the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Government Procurement Act.
In terms of inclusive wellbeing, particularly SME empowerment, Budget 2026 allocates RM50 billion in loan and guarantee facilities and over RM2.5 billion in microfinancing for local entrepreneurs. This matches the Pavilion’s effort to connect 462 Malaysian SMEs with global buyers, anchoring Malaysia’s ambition to achieve equitable growth.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Ambassador to Japan Datuk Shahril Effendi Abd Ghany stated that Expo 2025 Osaka is an important platform to reaffirm and deepen Malaysia-Japan relations. With Japan being one of Malaysia’s top economic partners, the Expo provides an opportunity to build on an already strong foundation, having implemented over 2,800 Japanese projects in Malaysia valued at more than RM105 billion and creating over 340,000 jobs.
Through the Malaysia Pavilion, new avenues of cooperation in semiconductors, renewable energy, the digital economy, and environmental sustainability are being created, aligning with both Malaysia’s national priorities and Japan’s expertise. The signing of agreements with Japanese counterparts, including the MIDA-JETRO Memorandum of Cooperation, demonstrates stronger institutional linkages and future-oriented projects facilitated by the Expo.
In his closing remarks, Hairil Yahri noted that of the RM24.45 billion secured from the Expo, RM6.04 billion came from more than 70 memoranda of understanding, agreements, and cooperation signed at the event. The remainder comprises RM5.62 billion in potential exports and RM12.79 billion in potential investments generated from 1,555 business meetings.
The Malaysia Pavilion, themed ‘Weaving a Future in Harmony,’ highlighted Malaysia’s commitment to a sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking future. Also present were MATRADE chief executive officer Datuk Seri Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz and MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Sikh Abdul Majid.