LONDON, Jan 18- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's first working visit to London, United Kingdom (UK) has successfully attracted potential investment worth RM11 billion across various sectors, including renewable energy and the digital economy.
According to him, the success reflects the confidence of foreign investors in the country's policies after a series of meetings with 31 leading industry captains in the UK.
In a press conference with the Malaysian delegation on Friday, Datuk Seri Anwar explained that the export potential generated in the next five years is estimated at RM500 million, involving equipment products and aircraft components.
"I had several meetings with company heads, and in that meeting their proposals were expressed. It is also interesting that apart from those investments, there are among them who choose, in the short period of time, to import goods of about RM500 million," he said.
The Prime Minister also announced that Malaysia and the UK have agreed to increase cooperation to the strategic partnership level, covering trade, investment, renewable energy, artificial intelligence (AI), digital, climate change, higher education, defense and security.
The UK's official participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on December 15th is also seen of opening up an easier route for trade and investment with Malaysia.
"With the CPTPP, participation in contracts, professionals, and goods from Malaysia will be easier. In meetings with companies such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad, YTL Group, and Gamuda Bhd that have investments here, we emphasise to them to take into account the available returns to Malaysia," explained Datuk Seri Anwar.
He also praised the Malaysian companies' ability to to compete internationally, including YTL Group, whose integrated development project in the UK is estimated to be able to generate export potential of RM1.1 billion in the next five years.
The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer also expressed his admiration for Malaysian companies that successfully won project tenders in the UK.
The CPTPP, which has been in effect on Malaysia since 29 November 2022, now provides greater opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.