KUALA LUMPUR, 13 OCTOBER 2025: MALAYSIA is intensifying efforts to diversify trade partners and strengthen its role within the ASEAN supply chain to safeguard the economy amid rising global protectionism.
Investment, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong (picture) said the government has adopted a comprehensive approach to ensure Malaysia’s economic resilience by broadening trade partnership through key free trade agreements (FTAs) and empowering small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to compete in global markets.
“Malaysia continues to expand and strengthen various free trade agreements, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), while pursuing new deals to open markets and attract high-value investments,” he told Dewan Rakyat today.
He added that Malaysia recently concluded the Malaysia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (MUAEC) on Oct 1, 2025 and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Free Trade Agreement on June 23, 2025, covering markets such as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
“Through RCEP, Malaysia is able to attract quality investment that connects ASEAN’s export ecosystem to global markets, particularly in the electrical and electronics, automotive, halal products and digital economy sectors,” he said.
Liew also said that both RCEP and CPTPP include provisions for SMEs, focusing on knowledge-sharing, capacity building and greater market access for smaller businesses.
“MITI collaborates with agencies such as the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) to conduct training programmes, export guidance and cross-border e-trade platforms to support SME participation in global trade.
“We want to ensure that local industries build stronger supply chains and gain more value from their industrial activities. The aim is not to depend solely on imported inputs, but to strengthen our domestic and regional ecosystems,” he said.
He was replying to Bukit Bendera Member of Parliament (MP) Syerleena Abdul Rashid, who asked about the ministry’s measures to diversify trade partnerships and ensure that SMEs are not left out of international trade agreements such as the CPTPP and RCEP.
Liew added that Malaysia is also exploring new export markets under the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), Africa nations and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), while *FOSTERING* supply chain cooperation within ASEAN, particularly in the semiconductor sector, to reinforce Malaysia’s position in regional trade.
“Under our ASEAN framework, we have a semiconductor supply chain initiative among member countries to ensure a stronger and more resilient ecosystem for Malaysia,” he said.
