Malaysia, Italy agree peace, stability are keys to economic progress
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia deserves attention due to its strategic position within Asean and its consistent economic growth.
"Malaysia, as the centre of Asean, is deeply committed to the Asean framework. We are very fortunate, despite some minor issues here and there,
"Asean remains the most peaceful region in the world and the fastest-growing economy globally.
"Our policy of centrality involves engagement with all countries. We are also fortunate that our geographical location is far from conflict zones like Gaza and Ukraine.
"Despite that, we still adhere to the principles of democracy and reform and more importantly, to world peace and stability," he said.
Anwar made these remarks during his opening speech at the Malaysia-Italy Economic Partnership Roundtable held here.
Also present was Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, who is also the country's foreign affairs and international cooperation minister.
In his speech, Tajani echoed Anwar's views, stating that Italy's main objective is to expand trade opportunities through a network of trade agreements, including those with the European Union, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Asia is a key area for Italy's global economic outlook, not only because of its strategic role in international trade but also due to the growing demand for high-value-added goods and services from rapidly developing economies in the region," he said.
Highlighting the strong Putrajaya-Rome relationship, Tajani expressed confidence that further cooperation could be explored between the two countries.
Malaysia is among the key countries identified for growth, with Tajani emphasising factors such as rising domestic consumption, infrastructure improvements and increased openness to international trade.
Italy's exports to Asean countries, including Malaysia, are projected to rise by 10.3 per cent in 2024, reaching €10.7 billion (about RM53.24 billion).
Italy's total exports last year stood at €623.5 billion, representing 40 per cent of its gross domestic product.
Exports to non-EU countries increased to €305.4 billion, up by 1.2 per cent.
Italy is currently the sixth-largest exporter in the world and leads Europe in the diversity of its export goods.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
6 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Misplaced loyalties and the power vacuum in the Indian community
From P Ramasamy My long-time friend Charles Santiago has rightly highlighted the phenomenon of misplaced loyalties among Indians in Malaysia. Instead of rallying behind educators, social reformers, or politicians, many in the Indian working class have begun to idolise gang leaders, underworld figures, and other unsavoury characters. This disturbing trend stems from a deeper crisis – a glaring absence of strong and credible leadership within the Indian community. The legacy of leaders who once fought for Indian rights and dignity has largely faded. The late S Samy Vellu, despite his controversies, was the last figure to command widespread loyalty among grassroots Indians. Today, MIC is a shadow of its former self, more focused on managing party assets than advancing community interests. Meanwhile, Indian leaders in DAP and PKR appear to have surrendered Indian-specific concerns in the name of superficial multiracialism. Santiago identified the problem, but fell short of addressing its root cause. The reverence for slain gangsters – often evident in massive funeral processions – is not merely about criminal notoriety. It reflects a yearning for powerful, defiant figures in a community long subjected to marginalisation and discrimination. In the absence of legitimate leaders who challenge the system, gang leaders have come to embody rebellion and resistance. While their actions are often criminal and harmful, they represent, to some, a form of empowerment that mainstream leaders fail to offer. The power vacuum makes it almost inevitable that the rank and file gravitate towards figures who, rightly or wrongly, appear to resist authority. To reverse this trend, the Indian community needs leaders who are brave, uncompromising, and committed to fighting for its dignity and rights within a deeply racist political system. Only by addressing this vacuum can we begin to shift loyalties away from underworld figures and towards genuine community champions. Ultimately, the blame lies not with the community, but with a political system that has persistently denied Indians equal recognition, opportunity, and justice. P Ramasamy is the Urimai chairman. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Free Malaysia Today
6 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Why Malaysian Indians are mourning the wrong heroes
From Charles Santiago It is both painful and telling to witness thousands of young Malaysian Indians, including schoolchildren, turning up in force for the funerals of gang leaders and underworld figures. Meanwhile, the passing of educators, scholars, or community leaders who have dedicated their lives to uplifting the Malaysian Indian community barely registers. This is not merely a moral failing but a reflection of a nation that has, for decades, normalised the exclusion and degradation of an entire ethnic group. For too long, Indians in Malaysia have lived under the shadow of structural neglect and state-sanctioned second-class citizenship. There are no meaningful affirmative action policies to uplift the community. Disparities in education, access to business capital, and government procurement opportunities are entrenched. Derogatory terms like 'keling' continue to be used without consequence. The casual branding of Indians as alcoholics, criminals, and gangsters – by the media, by policymakers, and in public discourse – has robbed generations of dignity and self-worth. But even despair has context. What the crowds at these funerals signal is not just misplaced loyalty. It is the scream of a community cornered, of youth who have been told, over and over again, that the system was never built for them. When formal institutions abandon people, informal power fills the vacuum. This is what we are seeing: a loyalty born not of choice but of exclusion. The 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) provides the government with a strategic policy and implementation space to meaningfully address the marginalisation of Malaysian Indians. We need to put forward a bold, community-driven framework to confront systemic exclusion and offer a real pathway to empowerment, especially for the bottom 60% (B60) of Indian households. Policymakers could focus on four urgent areas of intervention – education reform, youth and women empowerment, SME development, and institutional accountability – and these should be prioritised as a blueprint for survival. If embedded into 13MP and future national development agendas, these proposals could help shift the Malaysian Indian narrative from dependency to agency, from marginalisation to shared prosperity. This is not about special treatment; it is about justice – about repairing the damage of decades of structural neglect and finally allowing Malaysian Indians to participate fully and equitably in national development. To ignore this moment, to once again sideline the voices of a hurting, frustrated, and disillusioned community, is to risk losing another generation. If the government truly cares about social cohesion, nation-building, and justice, then it must start by recognising where it has failed – and act decisively to correct it. This is not a call for pity. It is a call for political will. Charles Santiago is a political economist and a former MP. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
BusinessToday
6 minutes ago
- BusinessToday
South Korea's Foreign Reserves Rebound In June
South Korea's foreign reserves rebounded in three months due to the higher conversion value of non-U.S. dollar assets, central bank data showed Thursday. Foreign currency reserves mounted 5.61 billion U.S. dollars from a month earlier to 410.20 billion dollars at the end of June after sliding for the past two months, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). The turnaround was attributed to higher investment income and the increased conversion value of non-dollar assets, caused by the weaker U.S. currency. The dollar index, which gauges the dollar value versus six major peers, declined 1.9 percent last month. The country's foreign reserves were composed of 358.50 billion dollars of securities, 26.54 billion dollars of deposits, 15.89 billion dollars of special drawing rights, 4.79 billion dollars of gold bullion and 4.47 billion dollars of the IMF position. The Asian country was ranked as the world's 10th-largest holder of foreign reserves at the end of May, unchanged from a month earlier. Related
