logo
PM Anwar leads trade mission to Italy, France, Brazil from July 1-7

PM Anwar leads trade mission to Italy, France, Brazil from July 1-7

The Suna day ago
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will embark on an official visit to Italy, France, and Brazil from July 1 to 7, aiming to enhance Malaysia's economic and diplomatic relations.
The trip includes his participation in the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah stated that these visits target key economic hubs—Rome, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro—to foster stronger bilateral ties.
Last year, Malaysia's trade with these nations reached RM50.91 billion (USD11.14 billion).
'These engagements will accelerate growth in trade, technology, education, and cultural exchange,' Tunku Nashrul said during the Prime Minister's Office briefing.
In Italy, Anwar will meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to discuss economic collaboration and cultural initiatives.
A Business Roundtable will gather industry leaders, while discussions with Muslim community leaders and Malaysian expatriates will strengthen people-to-people connections.
In France, Anwar is scheduled to meet President Emmanuel Macron, focusing on trade, tech, and education. He will also deliver a public lecture at Sorbonne University on July 4.
From July 5-7, Anwar will attend the BRICS Summit in Brazil at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Malaysia's role as a BRICS Partner Country and ASEAN Chair 2025 will highlight multilateral cooperation, AI governance, climate action, and global health.
A business delegation, including Petronas, Khazanah Nasional, Sunway, and Maybank, will accompany the Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) oversees the delegation, ensuring government and private sector synergy for investment expansion.
Anwar returns on July 9 before attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
'The MADANI Government hopes these meetings will deepen friendships, boost trade, and create new opportunities for Malaysians and ASEAN,' Tunku Nashrul said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mamdani officially secures nomination for New York City mayor
Mamdani officially secures nomination for New York City mayor

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

Mamdani officially secures nomination for New York City mayor

FILE PHOTO: Candidate for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani rides the subway following a campaigning stop in New York City, U.S., April 1, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) -The New York City Election board on Tuesday confirmed a stunning victory by mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary, clearing the way for the political upstart to be the party's nominee for the November mayoral election. The ranked-choice voting results released on Tuesday showed Mamdani, who started his campaign as little-known New York state assembly member, clinched 56% of votes in the third round of the voting, where over 50% of votes are required for a winner. As the Democratic nominee, Mamdani will face current mayor Eric Adams in the general election. Adams, who won as a Democrat in his first mayoral race in 2021, is running as an independent candidate after his indictmenton corruption charges and the subsequent decision by the Department of Justice to drop the case. In a new video on X, Mamdani compared his victory in the primary to the election campaign Adams had in 2021. "We have always thought our victory would come after multiple rounds of ranked-choice voting. When we got more votes in the first round than Eric Adams got in the seven rounds in the last election,it was astonishing," he said. An unexpected victory of 33-year-old Mamdani, a Uganda-born Muslim, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, over veteran politician Andrew Cuomo, a moderate, caused unease among Democrats, worried that his political views may make them a convenient target for Republican attacks. The day after Mamdani's victory, President Donald Trump called him a "100% Communist Lunatic" while the Republican party's congressional campaign arm promised to tie him to every vulnerable Democrat in next year's midterm elections. In the new video, Mamdani said that his objective was "to win people back to the Democratic party" and noted that he prevailed in some of New York City neighborhoods that voted for Trump in the presidential election last year. After the election board confirmed Mamdani's victory, Trump, asked how he would deal with Mamdani if he wins the election and tries to block arrests of immigrants, said: "Well then, we'll have to arrest him. Look, we don't need a communist in this country. But if we have one I'm going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation." Mamdani earlier said that the immigrant raids were "terrorizing people" and agents who carry them out have no interest in following the law. Cuomo, who received 44% of votes in the final tally, called Mamdani to concede the race after early results of the primary were announced last Tuesday. The former governor could enter the race as an independent candidate, but he has not said publicly whether he will. Along with Adams, Mamdani will face Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, a radio host best known as the founder of the Guardian Angels anti-crime patrol, and attorney Jim Walden, who is running as an independent. The ranked-choice voting system that New York City adopted in 2021 allowed voters to rank up to five candidates in the order of preference. Ballots are tabulated in what may best be described as a series of instant runoffs, where the candidates who trail are gradually eliminated and their votes are re-distributed among frontrunners until one of them reaches 50%. (Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova, Trevor Hunnicutt, Joseph Ax; Editing by Nick Zieminski)

Asean secretary-general urges stronger cruise tourism ties with India
Asean secretary-general urges stronger cruise tourism ties with India

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

Asean secretary-general urges stronger cruise tourism ties with India

JAKARTA: (Bernama) Asean secretary-general Dr Kao Kim Hourn has outlined actions to be taken under the Asean-India Tourism Work Plan 2023-2027 to advance cruise tourism cooperation between the two regions. Speaking virtually from Jakarta during the Asean-India Cruise Dialogue 2025 held in Chennai on Monday (June 30), he said the initiative provides a timely platform to deepen maritime tourism and strengthen regional connectivity. "The Cruise Dialogue offers a strategic platform to translate our shared aspirations into action. By working together, we can develop initiatives that link heritage, culture, and communities across our coastal regions,' he said in a video message released by the Asean Secretariat. Kao outlined several priorities under the work plan, including the development of integrated cruise circuits, enhancement of port infrastructure with digital systems, and promotion of joint investments in cruise-related services. He emphasised capacity-building in cruise operations and hospitality, especially targeting youth and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and called for stronger coordination through the Asean Task Force on Tourism and Transport. Sustainability was also a key theme, with calls to protect marine ecosystems, improve climate resilience, and harness digital platforms to enhance passenger experiences and operational coordination. "These areas of cooperation reflect the potential for Asean and India to lead in sustainable and inclusive cruise tourism,' Kao said, noting India's US$5 million contribution to the Asean-India Fund as a vital support mechanism. With over 40 cruise destinations in Asean and major port upgrades underway, he said the sector is emerging as a strategic growth area. The dialogue was held as part of the Asean-India Year of Tourism aimed at strengthening tourism ties between the two regions. Travel between Asean and India has been growing, with about 5.88 million Indian tourists visiting Asean last year and 660,000 visitors from Asean countries travelling to India, Kao added. - Bernama

Kota Madani, a misplaced priority amidst budget cuts, says Pas Youth
Kota Madani, a misplaced priority amidst budget cuts, says Pas Youth

Sinar Daily

time5 hours ago

  • Sinar Daily

Kota Madani, a misplaced priority amidst budget cuts, says Pas Youth

The youth wing's chief argued that such a project represents a misplaced priority at a time when Malaysia is grappling with subsidy reductions and a worsening fiscal deficit. By SINAR DAILY REPORTER 01 Jul 2025 08:18pm The initial phase of development, spanning 41.28 hectares in Precinct 19, is slated to commence in September 2025 and is projected for completion by the end of 2027. - Bernama photo SHAH ALAM – Pas Youth has slammed the Federal Government's ambitious "Kota Madani" development in Putrajaya, labelling it an "elitist" undertaking that could exacerbate the nation's financial woes. The youth wing's chief, Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden argued that such a project represents a misplaced priority at a time when Malaysia is grappling with subsidy reductions and a worsening fiscal deficit. The initial phase of development, spanning 41.28 hectares in Precinct 19, is slated to commence in September 2025 and is projected for completion by the end of 2027. - Bernama photo Afnan cautioned the government against pursuing what he termed "vanity symbols" for the Prime Minister, urging fiscal prudence instead of new commitments. He highlighted concerns that the project, despite an estimated cost of RM4 billion, could incur a substantially higher financial burden if funded through a private finance initiative (PFI). The PFI model, he noted, has historically drawn criticism for potentially masking a government's true debt obligations in official records. Afnan called on the administration to disclose the precise cost of the project, including annual commitments stretching over the next 20 to 25 years. "What tangible benefits can the people expect, especially the younger generation who will inherit the weight of this debt? "Why is such a extravagant project being prioritised when funding for education, healthcare, food security and social welfare continues to diminish?" Afnan questioned in a statement today. The Alor Setar MP also raised objections to the involvement of Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Petronas, as the project's primary driver. He pointed out that this comes at a time when the national oil and gas corporation faces declining profits, workforce reductions and increasing investment pressures across various sectors. "The government should be safeguarding Petronas, not transforming the company into a 'political ATM' to finance elitist projects that do not offer equitable commercial returns," Afnan added. Calling for an immediate halt to the Putrajaya government quarters project, Afnan demanded that a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis be presented in Parliament. "If the government insists on proceeding, it will become evident that the true purpose behind Kota Madani is not national advancement, but rather the pursuit of political ambition and the legacy of a particular individual," he concluded. On June 26, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially launched the Kota Madani project, conceived as a smart city initiative designed to be people-centric and environmentally sustainable. Reports indicate the project will operate on a build, lease, maintain and transfer model, meaning the government will not directly bear maintenance costs but will pay through a long-term lease arrangement. The initial phase of development, spanning 41.28 hectares in Precinct 19, is slated to commence in September 2025 and is projected for completion by the end of 2027. This phase will comprise 10,000 high-density vertical residential units, designed to accommodate over 30,000 residents.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store