KUALA LUMPUR – Japan has contributed over RM30 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) into the nation’s initial phase of industrial development and is expected to surpass the amount this year, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Japan had contributed to our initial phase of industrial development. This year, we have a commitment of FDI from Japan that exceeds RM30 billion. This is very impressive,” he said during a joint press conference following extensive discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Seri Perdana today.
“(The investments) came from companies already investing in Malaysia, who without exception made this commitment with the ambassador present, that they all had committed themselves to increase and extend the development into Malaysia.”
Anwar also said new investments are being channelled into Malaysia this year, as informed by the Investment, Trade, and Industry Ministry.
Meanwhile, he added that the two leaders expressed a shared commitment and interest in establishing a branch of the Tsukuba University Campus in Malaysia.
The branch, he said, would allow Malaysian students to obtain more exposure and access to the Japanese education system in a local platform.
Regarding the Fukushima wastewater release, Anwar expressed his satisfaction with the assurance that the treated water would have a negligible radiological impact, according to the nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency report.
As such, Malaysia will continue to import products from Japan, he added.
Anwar also said the meeting focused on the two countries’ ongoing energy transition. The two leaders stressed their commitment to decarbonise and achieve greater zero greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to continue their cooperation in strengthening regional peace and security.
The two leaders also said they would continue working with other Asean nations to enhance the Asean-Japan dialogue relations, which have spanned 50 years.
Kishida undertook a two-day working visit to Malaysia yesterday and today, his first visit to the country since his appointment as Prime Minister in October 2021.
Today, both he and Anwar held a bilateral meeting to review and discuss improving the progress of the two nations’ bilateral relations. – November 5, 2023