05-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Anwar arrives in Brazil ahead of BRICS Summit
RIO DE JANEIRO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived in Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will be held from July 6 to 7.
The special chartered Malaysia Airlines flight carrying him and his delegation landed at the Galeao Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro at 5.40am local time (4.40pm Malaysian time).
Anwar, who flew in from Paris after completing a two-day official visit to France, was welcomed by Malaysia's Acting Head of Mission in Brazil, Datuk Mohammad Ali Selamat, and Brazil's Secretary for the Promotion of Trade, Science, Technology, Innovation and Culture, Laudemar Goncalves de Aguiar Neto.
Anwar is scheduled to deliver two country statements during the summit.
Ali had previously said that both of Anwar's speeches will reflect Malaysia's commitment to strengthening multilateralism and amplifying the voices and interests of developing nations — in line with the core objectives of BRICS 2025.
Meanwhile, during his visit to Rio de Janeiro, Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, is scheduled to hold a business meeting with Brazilian multinational aerospace company Embraer.
Anwar's delegation includes Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, as well as senior government officials and representatives of Malaysian companies.
Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Brazil rose by 14.6 per cent to RM20.35 billion (US$4.38 billion) in 2024, up from RM17.43 billion the previous year, maintaining Brazil as one of Malaysia's key trading partners in Latin America.
Malaysia's exports to Brazil include electrical and electronic (E&E) products, rubber products, petroleum products, chemicals and chemical products, and palm oil-based manufactured goods.
Imports from the South American nation include metal ores and scrap, meat, coffee, and crude petroleum.
