Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade, met with Malaysia's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Zafrul Aziz, in Abu Dhabi to discuss expanding trade and investment links. A group of Malaysia's top trade officials visited the UAE for the conference. During the meetings, Al Zeyoudi praised the two nations' longstanding connections and emphasized the UAE's commitment to expanding commercial cooperation and developing possibilities for both sides' business communities.
The two sides also discussed the status of discussions for a UAE-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which was begun during Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, visit to Kuala Lumpur in May 2023.
This is the second meeting between the two trade ministers since CEPA negotiations began, the first of which took place in Jakarta at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit earlier this month, reflecting the deepening relationship between the UAE and Malaysia and the wider ASEAN bloc, as per ANI.
Al Zeyoudi said, "Malaysia is a valued partner for the UAE in an increasingly important region, one which shares our vision of leveraging global trade to accelerate growth and diversify the economy. The meeting with the Malaysian delegation provided an important opportunity to explore the sectors with maximum potential for our respective private sectors, and to build consensus on issues impacting global trade ahead of MC13 in Abu Dhabi in February next year.
"Malaysia's support for open, rules-based trade, transparent dispute resolution mechanisms and a greater voice for the developing world in trade policy will help deliver a conference of lasting impact."