KUALA LUMPUR: Qatar can use Malaysia as its trading hub in Asean, underscoring that the country offers the best location in the region, Senior Minister and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said.
With the signing of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, Malaysia had become more attractive, said Azmin who is on a three-day trade and investment mission to Qatar.
Malaysia was now connected to a market size of over two billion people, said Azmin in a statement after meeting with his counterpart Qatar Minister of Commerce and Industry and acting Minister of Finance Ali Ahmed Al Kuwari on his first day.
The objective of the mission was to promote Malaysia as an investment destination of choice, as well as further enhance bilateral trade and economic ties, the ministry said in the statement.
Azmin advocated Malaysian projects as the key to advancing its interest where, pursuant to the agreements signed between Malaysian Investments Development Authority and the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar (IPAQ), both agencies could take this to the next level
In addressing the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic, Azmin and Al Kuwari exchanged views on the various measures undertaken to deal with the challenges including accelerated immunisation programmes as well as economic stimulus initiatives.
Azmin said while the World Bank had downgraded its 2021 gross domestic product (GDP) projections to 4.5 per cent, Malaysia had for the first time in history broken record for a one-month trade performance in excess of RM100 billion, in spite of Covid-19.
"Going forward, the senior minister reiterated Malaysia's clear and comprehensive exit strategy through the National Recovery Plan," the ministry said.
Azmin is scheduled to meet the kingdom's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa Bin Abdulaziz Al Thani today.
The ministry said the meeting was key to start the discussion on Malaysia's National Investment Aspirations (NIA) to drive and deepen the strong partnership with Qatar.
The NIA consists of five key outcomes for the country.