CYBERJAYA: Malaysia has received recognition from the United States for its cooperation in facilitating investment in the country by aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his speech during the Public-Private Partnership Master Plan 2030 (Pikas 2030) launch said the appreciation was conveyed by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in a letter.
"Coincidentally, this morning, I received a letter from the US Secretary of Commerce expressing high appreciation for our cooperation, which has enabled them to invest through Boeing in Kedah.
"This is because they have confidence in our policies, even though there are occasional concerns about a slight shift in our foreign policy.
"I emphasised that our independent and sovereign foreign policy, like Malaysia's, should remain free. Some refer to 'centrality' as the cornerstone of our foreign policy, taking a more pragmatic approach," he said.
Anwar also said Malaysia was fortunate to receive greater recognition from foreign nations compared with before.
"While we are engaging with China due to its current strong capabilities and its recent developments with Russia in areas such as space, energy and nuclear technology, which are advancing rapidly, we continue to maintain strong ties with our traditional friends, including Asean, Europe and the US," he said.
Previously, it was reported that Boeing had relaunched its manufacturing facility as Boeing Composites Malaysia which provides composite products and sub-assemblies for all of its commercial airplane models including the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner.
This comes after the aircraft manufacturer fully acquired Aerospace Composites Malaysia in December last year, a joint venture with Hexcel Corporation. The renamed facility is Boeing's first wholly-owned manufacturing facility in Southeast Asia.
The site employs an all-Malaysian workforce of approximately 1,000 people.
As part of its initiative to recognise Malaysia's growing capabilities in the sector, Boeing also announced a higher education grant of RM44,000 to the National Youth Skills Institute in Jitra, Kedah.
The grant aims to train 30 students in machining and fabrication technology, while also guiding them towards employment opportunities in the aerospace industry.