The reception marking the 68th National Day of Malaysia in Brussels

H.E. Dato’ Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak, Ambassador of Malaysia to Belgium and Luxembourg & Head of Mission to the EU, welcomed distinguished guests. In his remarks, he underlined Malaysia’s role as ASEAN Chair, emphasizing the importance of sustained dialogue, proactive diplomacy, and goodwill in promoting strategic trust among nations. He also highlighted Malaysia’s economic and investment achievements, as wellTas the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026, dedicated to showcasing heritage, culture, nature, and hospitality in line with the UN SDGs.

During the reception, the ambassador presented a slide titled “Malaysia’s Efforts in Addressing EUDR”, which outlined the country’s strategic approach to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The presentation emphasized four key pillars:

1. Engagements
   Malaysia is actively communicating its constraints in meeting EUDR requirements, while asserting:
   • Its classification as a low-risk country.
   • The importance of MSPO (Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil) certification.
   • Ongoing MSPO reviews to align with EUDR standards.
2. Collaborations
   Malaysia is working through multilateral partnerships with other producing countries to:
   • Promote coordinated responses to global regulatory challenges.
   • Advocate for financial and technical support to meet sustainability goals.
3. MSPO Certification
   The MSPO scheme is being positioned as a national tool to fulfill EUDR sustainability requirements, reinforcing Malaysia’s commitment to responsible palm oil production.
4. Forest Governance
   Malaysia is enhancing its forest governance and conservation efforts, aiming to strengthen environmental stewardship and compliance with international standards.

This presentation reflects Malaysia’s proactive stance in balancing economic interests with environmental responsibilities under the evolving EU regulatory landscape.

In addition to the previous slides, the ambassador also presented another slide titled “The Key Agendas under the Madani Economic Framework”, reinforcing Malaysia’s strategic direction for inclusive and sustainable development. This slide outlines eight core priorities, each reflecting a pillar of the Madani vision:

1. A Regional (ASEAN) Agenda
   Enhancing Malaysia’s leadership and integration within ASEAN to foster regional stability and economic cooperation.
2. Economic Complexity and Industrialisation
   Promoting innovation and diversification to reverse premature deindustrialisation and strengthen Malaysia’s industrial base.
3. Globally Competitive Investment Destination
   Creating a business-friendly environment to attract high-quality investments and position Malaysia as a global economic hub.
4. Digitalisation
   Driving digital transformation across sectors to improve efficiency, innovation, and access to services.
5. Strengthening Social Protection
   Expanding social safety nets to ensure equitable development and protect vulnerable populations.
6. Municipal Services and Local Government Delivery
   Improving the quality and accessibility of public services at the local level to enhance citizen well-being.
7. Green Growth and Climate Resilience
   Advancing sustainable development through environmental protection and climate adaptation strategies.
8. Food Security
   Ensuring a stable and reliable supply of essential food items to safeguard national resilience.

This slide complements Malaysia’s environmental and regulatory efforts (as seen in the EUDR presentation) by showcasing a holistic economic framework that integrates sustainability, regional cooperation, and inclusive growth.

The Ambassador paid tribute to the people of Palestine and Ukraine, while stressing the value of partnership with Belgium, the EU, and the UN. Among the guests were ambassadors from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, China, Japan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Azerbaijan alongside key Belgian and EU representatives.
The evening featured cultural performances and traditional hospitality, reflecting Malaysia’s rich identity.

The final slide presented by the ambassador during the Malaysian reception was titled “Malaysia Investment Performance January – June 2025”, offering a detailed overview of the country’s investment landscape for the first half of the year. The data highlights Malaysia’s strong performance in attracting both domestic and foreign investments:

📊 Key Investment Figures

• Total Approved Investments: RM190.3 billion
• Domestic to Foreign Investment Ratio: 44 : 56
• Domestic Investments (DI): RM83.5 billion
• Foreign Direct Investments (FDI): RM106.8 billion
  

👷 Impact on Employment and Projects

• New Jobs Created: 89,294
• Projects Approved: 3,011

🗺️ Top Performing States

1. Johor – RM56.0 billion (DI: 13.1 | FDI: 42.9)
2. Selangor – RM34.7 billion (DI: 8.3 | FDI: 26.3)
3. W.P Kuala Lumpur – RM30.1 billion (DI: 30.0)
4. Pulau Pinang – RM18.9 billion (DI: 12.5 | FDI: 6.4)
5. Sabah – RM11.4 billion (DI: 7.5 | FDI: 3.8)

🌍 Top Five Foreign Investors (by immediate source country)

• Singapore – RM43.4 billion
• China – RM23.4 billion
• USA – RM10.4 billion
• British Virgin Islands (BVI) – RM6.6 billion
• Italy – RM3.3 billion

The final slide presented by the ambassador was titled “Malaysia’s Trade Performance January–June 2025”, offering a snapshot of the country’s external trade dynamics during the first half of the year. The data reflects both growth and challenges in Malaysia’s trade relations:

📈 Overall Trade Performance

• Total Trade: RM1,445 billion
  (+4.8% compared to the previous period)
• Exports: RM740.20 billion
  (+6.1%)
• Imports: RM704.47 billion
  (+3.7%)
• Trade Balance: RM55.55 billion
  (-17.2%, indicating a narrowing surplus)

Malaysia’s trade performance remained firm, with notable growth in exports despite a slight decline in the trade surplus.

🌍 Major Export Markets

1. ASEAN 
2. USA 
3. China 
4. EU 
5. Hong Kong SAR 

🛬 Major Import Markets

1. China 
2. ASEAN 
3. USA 
4. Chinese Taipei 
5. EU 

This slide illustrates Malaysia’s resilient trade performance, with strong export growth to ASEAN, the EU, and Hong Kong, while imports from China and Chinese Taipei saw declines. The narrowing trade surplus suggests shifting global dynamics and the need for strategic trade diversification.

This slide underscores Malaysia’s growing attractiveness as an investment destination, particularly for foreign investors, and its commitment to job creation and regional development.

source EuReflect – Latest News