Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from tomorrow until Thursday.
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to embark on an official trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from tomorrow until Nov 20, marking the first visit to the African nation by a Malaysian prime minister.
Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Malaysia in Ethiopia Afandi Abu Bakar said Anwar will be accompanied by investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa and senior government officials.
“This visit follows an invitation from Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, who visited Malaysia in October last year.
“It is highly meaningful and historic as it marks the first official visit by a Malaysian prime minister to Ethiopia.
“The visit also commemorates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Ethiopia, established in 1965,” Afandi told a press conference live-streamed from Addis Ababa today.
Afandi Abu Bakar.
Afandi said the prime minister’s official visit to Ethiopia follows the reopening of Malaysia’s embassy in Addis Ababa on Sept 23, reflecting Malaysia’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties with Ethiopia.
Malaysia’s embassy in Addis Ababa was first opened in 1965 but was closed in 1983 amid strained relations with the military regime at that time.
Afandi said coupled with Ethiopia’s stability and rapid growth, the embassy’s reopening will not only strengthen ties between the two nations but also pave the way for greater multilateral cooperation with the African Union (AU), a 55-member continental intergovernmental body.
Abiy Ahmed and Anwar are expected to discuss bilateral relations and explore new pathways to enhance cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment, agriculture, commodities, healthcare, tourism as well as education.
The two leaders will witness the exchange of memoranda of understanding on cooperation in tourism and healthcare, as well as the signing of an air services agreement.
They are expected to witness the signing of a collaboration document between Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the administration of Addis Ababa, as well as an exchange of diplomatic notes on bilateral consultations.
The prime minister is scheduled to meet Ethiopia’s president Taye Atske-Selassie Amde, who will also attend a high-level Malaysia-Ethiopia business forum.
Anwar is expected to meet with AU Commission chairman Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and other AU representatives, and deliver a special lecture to the Pan-African Youth Union and the Ethiopian Youth Council.
Unlocking new opportunities
While bilateral trade between Malaysia and Ethiopia grew strongly by 40.1% in 2024 to reach RM626 million, it remains relatively modest, with the official visit aimed at exploring untapped potential.
According to Wisma Putra, Ethiopia’s domestic halal market is a key focus for Malaysian halal exporters and investors, with Muslims accounting for 34.6% of the country’s 127 million population.
“The official visit seeks to formalise a strategic technical assistance programme through the Islamic development department (Jakim), which is designed to help Ethiopia establish a halal certification system compatible with Malaysian standards.
“This critically eases the entry of Malaysian products and investments, simultaneously transforming Ethiopia into a halal gateway to the Horn of Africa,” it said.
It added that Malaysia aims to open new trade corridors to bring high-quality Ethiopian products, such as speciality coffee, oilseeds, pulses, fresh produce, and leather or textile goods, into the Asean market, with Malaysia as the main gateway.
Additionally, the official visit aims to highlight Malaysia’s 50 years of expertise in the semiconductor sector to promote mutual development, in acknowledgment of Ethiopia’s technological ambitions.
The visit will also emphasise strengthening cybersecurity capabilities and propose joint R&D initiatives in agriculture, targeting key areas like drought-resistant crops to directly tackle food security issues.
Anwar will subsequently travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit from Nov 20-23, before proceeding to Nairobi, Kenya, for an official visit from Nov 23-24.
