PM Anwar arrives in Berlin for official visit to Germany

BERLIN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived in the German capital Sunday for his official visit to Malaysia's largest trading partner among European Union member countries.

The aircraft carrying the prime minister landed at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport at 10.29 pm Sunday (5.29 am Monday, Malaysia time).

On hand to welcome the premier at the airport were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Malaysia's Ambassador to Germany Datin Paduka Dr Adina Kamarudin and German government officials.

On Monday, Anwar is scheduled to visit Siemens Energy before holding a bilateral meeting with his German counterpart, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, besides paying a courtesy call on President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The leaders are expected to discuss the progress of Malaysia-Germany relations, particularly economic cooperation, education, environment and sustainability, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

During his six-day visit, which also includes the harbour city Hamburg, Anwar will meet captains of industry and potential investors such as Schott AG, Infineon Technologies AG, Melexis dan Airbus, as well as a session with Malaysian diaspora in the country.

Also accompanying Anwar were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.

While in Berlin, the Prime Minister will have a speaking engagement at Korber Foundation, a non-profit organisation focusing on social and political issues, and deliver a keynote address at the SME Future Day 2024 hosted by the German Association of Small and Medium-sized Businesses (Bundesverband mittelstandische Wirtschaft - BVMW).

In Hamburg, Anwar will attend the 101st East Asia Friendship Dinner (Ostasiatisches Liebesmahl) hosted by the German Asia-Pacific Business Association, where he is scheduled to deliver an address.

According to Wisma Putra, Anwar's visit to Germany is expected to further solidify the longstanding relations and multifaceted cooperation between Putrajaya and Berlin.

Germany has been Malaysia's largest trading partner among European Union member countries since 2000, while Malaysia is the largest trading partner for Germany among ASEAN member states.

In 2023, Malaysia's total trade with Germany increased by 5.9 per cent to RM63.45 billion (US$13.90 billion) as compared to RM59.87 billion (US$13.62 billion) in 2022.

--BERNAMA