The Malaysia Prime Minister, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim Champions Economic Resilience and Global Collaboration at APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco

YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, led a high-level Malaysian delegation at the 30th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) held in San Francisco, United States of America from 14 to 17 November 2023. Themed “Creating a Resilient and Sustainable Future for All”, the summit brought together leaders from the Asia-Pacific region to address critical economic challenges.

The APEC forum, consisting of 21 member economies, witnessed a notable expansion since its inception in 1989. The Prime Minister, alongside leaders from the United States, Australia, Canada, and others, convened to explore avenues for increased economic resilience, sustainability, and global cooperation.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by key ministers, including Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, Foreign Affairs Minister, YB Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Communications and Digital Minister, YB Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil. The active participation in AELM underscored Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to strengthening APEC leadership and addressing regional challenges.

The Prime Minister assumed a pivotal role in various APEC engagements, leading the Malaysian delegation during an Informal Dialogue with leaders from Colombia, Fiji, and India; as well as participating in the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Dialogue; and the Second Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Leader’s Meeting. Scheduled bilateral meetings reinforced diplomatic ties and aimed to enhance economic integration among APEC economies.

On the sidelines, MIDA facilitated significant one-on-one meetings between the Prime Minister and key executives from Google, Enovix, Microsoft and TikTok. Main highlights of the projects included strategic collaborations with Google to foster inclusive growth in the digital economy, Enovix’s substantial RM5.8 billion (USD1.2 billion) investment in Malaysia, Microsoft’s expansion of data center capacity, and ByteDance’s investment in developing sustainable data center facilities for TikTok.

These partnerships align with Malaysia’s MADANI Economic Framework and New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030. The Prime Minister emphasised that a stable political system and clear government policies are key factors influencing companies’ decisions to invest in Malaysia.

The United States, hosting the AELM for the third time, adopted the APEC Leaders’ 2023 Golden Gate Declaration, a testament to the region’s commitment to addressing global challenges. This declaration underscores unity and cooperation among APEC economies, focusing on challenges like the climate crisis and supply chain disruptions.

Looking ahead, APEC will see Peru hosting in 2024, to be followed by the Republic of Korea in 2025, and Vietnam in 2027.