DOHA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is kicking off his latest mission to woo new investments from West Asia with his first official visit to the capital city of Qatar.
A busy schedule awaits him today, starting with an official welcoming ceremony at about 10.30am Qatar time (3.30pm Malaysia time) by the Qatari government at the Amiri Diwan here.
He will be received by Qatari Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who will later host a luncheon for the prime minister.
This will be followed by a meeting with his counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also Qatar’s foreign minister.
The issues likely to be discussed include an update on the situation in Gaza, as Israel continues its aggression on the Palestinians with its latest invasion into the southern city of Rafah.
Later in the afternoon, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, will engage with around 30 captains of industry in Qatar, offering insight into Malaysia’s investment landscape and the current trajectory of the Malaysian economy.
Petroleum and natural gas account for over 70% of Qatar’s total government revenue, and Malaysia is keen on securing a share of this lucrative sector while also seeking new avenues for collaboration.
According to a post on X, Anwar will also participate in the Qatar Economic Forum and officiate the official opening of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s branch campus in Doha.
After the roundtable discussion with industry leaders, Anwar will deliver a one-hour public lecture at the Qatar National Library for the Hamad Bin Khalifa University.
The prime minister will then conclude his second day in Qatar by meeting with approximately 500 Malaysians residing in the country.
There are currently some 5,500 Malaysians actively employed in various sectors across Qatar.
The Malaysian delegation to Qatar includes foreign minister Mohamad Hasan; investment, trade, and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz; and higher education minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.
Last year, Malaysia’s total bilateral trade with Qatar amounted to RM4.2 billion, as the Gulf state became Malaysia’s fifth largest trading partner, sixth largest export destination and sixth largest import source from the West Asia region.
From January to March 2024, Malaysia’s total trade with Qatar jumped by 178.4% to RM1.43 billion (US$303.9 million) from RM514.9 million (US$116.7 million) during the corresponding period in 2023.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Malaysia and Qatar. - FMT
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