Bridging Europe and ASEAN: Malaysia and Belgium Forge Deeper Strategic Ties at Brussels Innovation and Trade Seminar

Diplomats, senior policymakers, and industry leaders convened at the Tangla Hotel in Brussels for the inaugural seminar titled "Malaysia and Belgium: Strategic Partners in Driving Innovation, Trade and Investment within the Ecosystem." Hosted by the Embassy of Malaysia in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union, the high-level gathering brought together over 60 participants, featuring Ambassadors from the ASEAN Brussels Committee, trade and investment counsellors, representatives from the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, the European External Action Service, academic leaders, media representatives, and prominent business figures.
A Flourishing Bilateral Partnership

Setting the tone for the event, His Excellency Dato’ Mohd Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak, Ambassador of Malaysia to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU, delivered welcoming remarks emphasizing the robust and dynamic economic relationship between the two nations. In 2025, total bilateral trade reached RM9.74 billion (approximately €2.20 billion), with Malaysian exports accounting for RM6.85 billion (€1.42 billion) and imports standing at RM2.89 billion (€0.60 billion). The trade structure remains well-diversified, anchored by electrical and electronics products, optical and scientific equipment, orthopaedic appliances, palm oil-based manufactured products, and rubber goods. On the investment front, Malaysia has approved 67 Belgian investment projects valued at RM5.2 billion (€1.16 billion), creating nearly 4,700 high-value jobs and hosting major enterprises such as Melexis, X-FAB, Lhoist, Oleon, Solvay, and UCB Chemicals.

Pillars of Future Economic Collaboration

Positioned at the heart of ASEAN—a dynamic single market of over 680 million consumers—Malaysia serves as Belgium's premier gateway into Southeast Asia. Guided by key national blueprints including the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the National Semiconductor Strategy, and the National Energy Transition Roadmap, the seminar outlined key growth sectors for future cooperation.

In semiconductors and nanoelectronics, both nations plan to blend Belgium’s world-class research capabilities, led by institutions like imec and companies like Melexis, with Malaysia’s established prowess in IC design, assembly, testing, and advanced packaging. In green energy and clean technology, Belgium’s extensive offshore wind expertise offers valuable opportunities to accelerate Malaysia's energy transition. Sustainable growth will also extend into green chemicals by combining Malaysia’s abundant oleochemical resources with Belgian chemical engineering, as well as into pharmaceuticals and medical devices to build resilient global healthcare supply chains.

Maritime and logistics collaboration forms another cornerstone of this partnership, highlighted by ties between Belgian infrastructure leaders like the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Malaysian developments such as the Lumut Maritime Industrial City, a project projected to generate 50,000 jobs over 25 years. Additionally, both sides emphasized deepening people-to-people connectivity, business travel, and cultural ties, directly aligned with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026–2027 initiative.

Industry Success Stories and EU–ASEAN Synergy

The program featured an interactive presentation by Mr. Steve Cosyn, Global Trade Director at Melexis Technologies NV, who shared the company’s rewarding journey in scaling its advanced wafer probing and IC testing facility in Kuching, Sarawak. Discussions also highlighted broader European-Malaysian alignment, such as European Investment Bank Global approving a USD 250 million loan facility for Dutch semiconductor leader NXP Semiconductors to expand its back-end operations near Kuala Lumpur. As a flagship initiative under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the project reinforces semiconductor supply chain resilience between Europe and Southeast Asia while creating over 1,000 high-value technical jobs.

Momentum Toward the Malaysia–EU Free Trade Agreement

Multilateral integration was a central theme, with updates highlighting steady progress on negotiations for the Malaysia–European Union Free Trade Agreement. Following the fifth round of talks in Brussels, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to concluding a modern, comprehensive agreement by 2027 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of ASEAN–EU dialogue relations. The agreement promises extensive economic benefits, including progressive tariff elimination, the reduction of non-tariff barriers, flexible rules of origin, and forward-looking provisions on digital trade and sustainability. Concluding the seminar, Ambassador Dato’ Mohd Khalid Abbasi underscored that forging such historic agreements requires enduring political will, mutual win-win benefits, and a shared dedication to sustainable growth.