🇲🇾🇺🇿Malaysia remains committed to strengthening ties with Uzbekistan.
This was stated by Malaysian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Ilham Tuah Ilyas, who also expressed deep personal pride in the country's contribution to Uzbekistan's progress.
Speaking in the Diplomatic Dispatch program on Bernama TV, the ambassador highlighted Malaysia's engagement in various sectors including trade, investment, education and cultural exchange.
There has been a significant growth in trade between Malaysia and Uzbekistan, which has doubled in recent years. The trade turnover between Malaysia and Uzbekistan reached US$102.4 million in 2024, up from US$65.5 million in 2017.
From 2017 to 2024, exports from Uzbekistan to Malaysia grew 1.3 times and imports from Malaysia to Uzbekistan grew 1.6 times. Malaysia exports goods such as food, chemicals, and machinery, while importing goods such as palm oil, chemicals, and medical devices from Uzbekistan.
Malaysian investment in Uzbekistan is growing, with 36 Malaysian businesses registered in the country by early 2025. Between 2017 and 2024, total foreign direct investment and credit from Malaysia to Uzbekistan amounted to US$12.9 million, mainly in sectors such as food processing, leather goods and wholesale trade.
High-level business forums have been organized in recent years, including one in Samarkand during the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in 2024, resulting in investment agreements worth more than $3 billion.
Malaysia and Uzbekistan have also established several joint educational programs in 2024. These include student exchange initiatives, joint master's and doctoral programs.
In addition, many agreements have been signed covering areas ranging from cooperation in critical minerals to higher education, healthcare and the development of smart cities.
Of the latter, the two sides began discussions in early 2025 to develop a preferential trade agreement that aims to further boost trade.
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