Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, on an official visit to Kuala Lumpur, announced ambitious plans to double Türkiye’s bilateral trade volume with Malaysia to $10 billion, emphasizing a sustainable and balanced economic partnership.

The announcement came during a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, following high-level talks and the signing of several agreements between the two nations.

Speaking alongside Prime Minister Ibrahim, Erdoğan underscored the shared commitment of Türkiye and Malaysia to strengthen economic ties. "We as Türkiye and Malaysia are on the same page on increasing the activity and diversity in the areas of trade and investments through a win-win understanding," Erdoğan said. "We have decided to increase our bilateral trade volume, which we previously set as $5 billion, to $10 billion. We now aim for a $10-billion sustainable and balanced trade volume with Malaysia, which is our biggest trade partner within the ASEAN region."

The new target reflects the growing economic relationship between the two countries, with Malaysia serving as a key partner for Türkiye in Southeast Asia. Erdoğan expressed optimism that the business forum scheduled for later today would pave the way for new cooperation models and investment projects, further deepening ties.

The announcement followed a series of productive discussions, including a tête-à-tête between Erdoğan and Ibrahim, as well as a meeting between their respective delegations. The talks culminated in the signing of agreements aimed at fostering collaboration in various sectors. While specific details of the agreements were not disclosed, officials indicated that they focus on enhancing trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

Erdoğan’s visit to Kuala Lumpur underscores Türkiye’s strategic interest in expanding its economic footprint in the ASEAN region, with Malaysia playing a pivotal role. The $10-billion trade target signals both nations’ determination to build a more robust and balanced economic partnership, prioritizing sustainability and mutual benefit.

Türkiye and Malaysia have seen steady growth in bilateral trade in recent years, with Malaysia ranking as Türkiye’s largest trading partner within ASEAN. The push to double the trade volume to $10 billion reflects both countries’ ambitions to diversify their economic portfolios and strengthen resilience in the face of global economic challenges.

Analysts view the target as achievable, given the complementary strengths of the two economies. Türkiye’s expertise in manufacturing, construction, and technology aligns with Malaysia’s growing demand for infrastructure development and industrial innovation. Meanwhile, Malaysia’s position as a hub for trade and investment in Southeast Asia offers Türkiye a gateway to broader regional opportunities.

Erdoğan highlighted the importance of the upcoming business forum, which is expected to bring together business leaders, investors, and policymakers from both nations. "I hope that the business forum to be held today will lead to new cooperation models and investment projects," he said, signaling optimism for concrete outcomes from the event.

As Türkiye and Malaysia work toward their $10-billion trade goal, the focus will be on fostering sustainable growth, balancing trade flows, and exploring new avenues for collaboration. The strengthened partnership is expected to deliver economic benefits for both nations while reinforcing their strategic ties in the ASEAN region. (ILKHA)