EU-Malaysia trade to match pre-pandemic levels by year-end: EU Ambassador
The European Union (EU) is expecting trade with Malaysia to recover to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year, EU Ambassador to Malaysia Michalis Rokas has said.
EU Ambassador to Malaysia Michalis Rokas (Photo: Internet)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - The European Union (EU) is expectingtrade with Malaysia to recover to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year,EU Ambassador to Malaysia Michalis Rokas has said.
The EU pledgedto continue to make Malaysia its strategic partner given its significantgateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market, he spoke during Bernama TV’s programme entitled “Malaysia-EU Relations” on January31.
ASEAN countries in generalare a great destination, he said, adding that 45% of EU trade (to ASEAN) goes through Malaysia’s shores.
According to Rokas, the EU and Malaysia have formed a strongbilateral relationship and investment commi🔜tment for decades even before theintroduction of any treaty tools or trade instrument. This means Malaysia is already a trusted partner for the EU,b📖ecause of its democracy, rule of law, native English speakers, ease of doingbusiness and skilled workforce, among others, he was quoted by Bernama newsagency as saying.
The ambassador said the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Partnershipand Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which was signed in Brussels in December lastyear, would provide a major springboard that would boost EU-Malaysia trade.
Pre-pandemic, the two-way EU-Malaysia trade amounted toover 300 billion EUR but it dropped to 50 billion EUR after thepandemic hit amid supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, and closureof factories.
Expressing his interest to be working closely with the newgovernment under the administration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahimon various reforms, Rokas said there are close to 1,500 European companiesoperating in the Southeast Asian country at present.
For future potential collaboration, he said key areas wouldbe in green technologies, digitalisation, cybersecurity, humandevelopment, educati🦹on as well as logistics and commodity manufacturing./.
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EU Ambassador to Malaysia Michalis Rokas (Photo: Internet) 
