Cairo, Egypt

The African Centre for Research (ACRESS), upon the official invitation of His Excellency Dato’ Mohd Tarid Sufian, the Ambassador of Malaysia to Egypt, participated in the high-level reception hosted by the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo on the evening of Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The event commemorated the 68th anniversary of Malaysia's National Day and the 62nd anniversary of the Malaysian Armed Forces Day.

The ceremony was attended by numerous ambassadors, diplomats, military attachés, representatives of major companies and the private sector, and members of the Malaysian community in Egypt. The event highlighted the deep friendship and growing strategic partnership between Malaysia and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The celebration was honored by the presence of His Excellency Dr. Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, as the guest of honor representing the Egyptian government, reflecting the significant importance of the celebration and the strength of bilateral relations.

Unity in Diversity Drives Growth

In his speech, His Excellency Dato’ Mohd Tarid Sufian, the Malaysian Ambassador to Egypt, emphasized that Malaysia's enduring strength stems from its multi-ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity. He stated that "our peace, stability, and steady progress are built on mutual respect, tolerance, and harmony among our people." The Ambassador noted that this year's National Day theme, "Malaysia MADANI – Rakyat Disantuni," meaning "Caring for the People," embodies the Malaysian government's ambition to safeguard the welfare of all Malaysians and support unity and shared prosperity.

His Excellency Ambassador Sufian also highlighted Malaysia's economic achievements under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, noting that Malaysia has become one of the three fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, recording a growth rate of 5.1% in 2024. Furthermore, Malaysia rose 11 places to rank 23rd in the Global Competitiveness Index, affirming its status as one of the region's most dynamic and investment-attractive countries.

66 Years of Relations Culminate in a Strategic Partnership

His Excellency Ambassador Sufian also addressed the history of diplomatic relations between Egypt and Malaysia, established 66 years ago in 1959. He explained that the two countries have agreed to elevate their relations to a strategic partnership covering broad areas including trade, investment, education, energy, and defense. This partnership is now expanding to include new fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and infrastructure. Consequently, Cairo now hosts Malaysia's largest representation in Africa, including a Military Attaché's Office, a comprehensive trade office for the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), and government representatives overseeing the affairs of Malaysian students in Egypt.

The Ambassador provided statistics underscoring the depth of this bilateral cooperation:

• Bilateral Trade: Reached approximately USD 1 billion in 2024, a 30% increase from 2023.
• Investment Sector: PETRONAS remains the largest Malaysian investor in Egypt's oil and gas sector.
• Industrial Cooperation: The partnership between PROTON and Ezz El-Arab has revived the Malaysian presence in the automotive sector through the local assembly of PROTON Saga vehicles in Egypt.
• Academic and Educational Exchange: Over 6,000 Malaysian students are studying in Egypt, while approximately 3,000 Egyptian students are pursuing higher education in Malaysia.
• International Coordination: The Malaysian Ambassador confirmed that the two countries work closely in international forums to support the Palestinian cause and the two-state solution. He praised Egypt's mediation efforts and humanitarian relief in Rafah. He announced that Malaysia has provided over 110 tons of aid valued at USD 2.3 million since last year, in addition to providing medical treatment for 127 injured Palestinians.

ASEAN Chairmanship 2025

In conclusion, the Ambassador noted that Malaysia is proudly chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2025 under the theme "Inclusivity and Sustainability." ASEAN comprises over 660 million people, and its market size is projected to reach USD 4.5 trillion by 2030. He invited friends to visit Malaysia during the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (Wira and Manja), promising an experience of "Malaysia, Truly Asia."