UK Minister’s visit reinforces shared commitment to secure and resilient growth
Media Statement
March 10, 2025 19:40 MYT
March 10, 2025 19:40 MYT
UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West MP will also join Malaysians in celebrating Commonwealth Day (10 March) at the Royal Commonwealth Society in Kuala Lumpur. - British High Comm KL
KUALA LUMPUR: The UK and Malaysia will step up cooperation to drive economic growth through trade and investment in key sectors.
Kicking off her visit today (10 March), the UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West MP will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a semiconductor partnership between a British and Malaysian company, advancing an already strong relationship between the UK and Malaysia in the technology sector.
Her visit comes three months after the UK joined Malaysia in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), making it the first UK-Malaysia free trade agreement. By cutting tariffs and reducing other market access barriers, this will boost an already strong trading relationship worth over £5.7bn annually and reinforce two-way flows of investment.
During her two-day visit to Malaysia, the Minister will hold bilateral talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad bin Haji Alamin. Alongside a strong message on mutual economic growth and the green transition, the Minister will reiterate the UK’s support for Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN and our commitment together on shared challenges from global health to international peace and security.
Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West said:
“Three months since the UK joined Malaysia in the CPTPP, eliminating tariffs and facilitating business partnerships, this is a moment of opportunity to deepen our economic links and advance our shared interest in sustainable and inclusive growth.
“Technology is one of the sectors we can and must develop together. I’m here in Malaysia to support that.
“To achieve economic growth we must have strong and stable foundations. That is why we will continue to work with Malaysia on our shared priorities around regional security issues, global health and the climate crisis.
"The UK will remain an active, committed Dialogue Partner to ASEAN – supporting ASEAN centrality and Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025."
During a meeting with Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong, Minister West will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for semiconductor partnership between the UK’s Semiwise Ltd and Malaysia’s Silicon Connect Sdn Bhd. It demonstrates the complementarity between the UK’s strength in Research & Development, Innovation, Intellectual Property and Malaysia’s expertise in manufacturing and precision engineering.
Later on in the programme, Minister West will join Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Haji Dzulkefly Ahmad to open the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Innovation Fund (GAMRIF) Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where she will deliver an opening speech to health professionals in Malaysia, focused on the importance of research and development to tackle a global health threat which, if left unchecked, could kill as many as 10 million people per year by 2050.
Turning to the green transition, the Minister will launch the Seed to Tree project in Shah Alam. The £1.5 million reforestation project spanning 2.5 years is funded by the UK Mission to ASEAN.
Minister West will also join Malaysians in celebrating Commonwealth Day (10 March) at the Royal Commonwealth Society in Kuala Lumpur.
The press statement is issued by British High Commission Kuala Lumpur