Istanbul: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is optimistic that the Malaysia-Turkiye bilateral trade target of US$10 billion is attainable, citing the positive outcomes from ongoing programmes and investments.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar's confidence is based on the effective implementation of trade and investment initiatives that have started yielding favorable results. Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani will further elaborate on the current and emerging trade and investment programmes that demonstrate Malaysia's capability to meet the US$10 billion trade volume goal.

Anwar also highlighted that Turkiye boasts a robust and resilient economy, while Malaysia, though smaller in scale, is experiencing rapid growth. This growth positions Malaysia as an attractive hub for high-value investments, particularly in sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centres, and emerging technologies, including the rare earth industry.

The Prime Minister emphasized the potential for deepened cooperation not only in traditional trade but also in new areas, supported by educational and research collaborations between the two nations. Malaysia's trade with Turkiye from January to November 2025 reached RM21.2 billion (US$4.92 billion), reaffirming Turkiye's role as a key economic partner for Malaysia.

In 2024, Turkiye was Malaysia's third-largest trading partner, the largest export destination, and the fourth-largest source of imports among West Asian countries, with a total trade value of RM24.15 billion (US$5.28 billion).