ANKARA, Jan 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the US$10 billion (RM40.5 billion) bilateral trade target between Malaysia and Turkiye is well within reach, expressing confidence in the strength of both economies.
Anwar said Turkiye has a strong and resilient economy, while Malaysia, although smaller, is growing rapidly and has emerged an attractive destination for high-value investments, particularly in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centres, and new technologies, including the rare earth industry.
“I think this type of collaboration will be more meaningful not only in terms of traditional levels of trade, but in new disciplines, which will be cemented through education and research collaboration between the two countries.
“That is why the necessary mechanisms must be put in place,” Anwar said in a joint press statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday, released in conjunction with Anwar’s official visit to Turkiye.
Anwar said Malaysia has benefited significantly from government-to-government procurement arrangements involving Turkiye’s defence industry, especially in naval and aerospace production, and called the collaboration a major advantage for Malaysia.
He said such cooperation also reflects a new model of partnership anchored on the principles of good governance and transparency.
Anwar added that the scope of bilateral cooperation would be expanded to include the halal industry and Islamic finance, which he described as sectors with strong potential for both countries to jointly explore and advance.
Malaysia’s total trade with Turkiye from January to November 2025 amounted to RM21.2 billion, underscoring Turkiye’s continued importance as Malaysia’s economic partner.
In 2024, Turkiye was Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner, largest export destination, and fourth-largest source of imports among West Asian countries, with total trade valued at RM24.15 billion.
