Deepening Economic Symbiosis: MIDA’s Strengthened Engagement Strategy with Australia and New Zealand

MIDA is dedicated to bolstering Malaysia’s appeal as a prime destination for high-quality and sustainable investments from Australia and New Zealand. Through targeted engagements, strategic collaborations, and closer policy alignment, MIDA is advancing initiatives that deepen economic ties and foster shared prosperity—anchored in Malaysia’s national industrial transformation agenda and the evolving investment priorities of Australia and New Zealand.

In line with the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), and Twelfth and Thirteenth Malaysia Plans (12MP & 13MP), MIDA is committed to attracting investments that accelerate high value-added, technology-driven, and sustainability-oriented growth.

By highlighting Malaysia’s strategic conduit to ASEAN markets, MIDA actively promotes emerging opportunities across advanced manufacturing, aerospace, digital economy, medical devices, food technology, green energy, and advanced materials. These efforts reinforce Malaysia’s aspiration to build a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-led industrial ecosystem that supports sustainable regional growth.

From Sydney to Auckland, MIDA continues to intensify its investment promotion and outreach activities across key cities in Australia and New Zealand—including Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Auckland, and Wellington. These engagements aim to strengthen bilateral partnerships, attract quality investments, and position Malaysia as a trusted partner in regional economic growth.

In collaboration with prominent business councils such as the Australia Malaysia Business Council (AMBC), Malaysia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (MNZCC), and the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council (ANZBC), MIDA Sydney has actively organised Roundtable Meetings (RTMs) and business seminars focused on strategic sectors, including data centres, logistics, renewable energy, and food manufacturing.

A notable achievement was the RTM series held on 22 and 25 September 2025 in Sydney and Auckland, respectively. This event was led by Dato’ Sivasuriyamoorthy Sundara Raja, Deputy CEO (Promotion and Investment Facilitation) of MIDA. These sessions successfully convened investors from both manufacturing and services sectors to discuss expansion opportunities, strategic partnerships, and supply chain integration in Malaysia.

Complementing these efforts were One-on-One meetings between the YAB Prime Minister and prominent Australian companies during the Special Australia-ASEAN Summit held in Melbourne last year, which reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to facilitating strategic investments and deepening economic cooperation.

MIDA’s participation as a panellist at the ASEAN–Australia Trade and Investment Forum in Perth, and in joint business seminars with various chambers of commerce, further reinforced readiness to leverage its ASEAN Chairmanship 2025. These platforms are vital in promoting ESG-aligned growth under NIMP 2030 and highlighting new opportunities in the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JSSEZ).

MIDA’s activities are strategically aligned with the Australia–Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which aims to deepen trade and investment between Australia and ASEAN. As a key ASEAN partner, Malaysia plays a pivotal role in driving cooperation in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, food security, and the digital economy.

Through MIDA’s active facilitation, major Australian companies—including AirTrunk, NextDC, Lynas, Arnott’s, and Bluescope—along with leading universities such as Monash University, Swinburne University, Curtin University and the University of Wollongong, have expanded their presence in Malaysia. These investments support high-impact areas such as technology transfer, talent development, and supply chain integration.

Meanwhile, increased outreach in New Zealand has strengthened interest in food technology, healthcare, and green innovation. Industry discussions have revealed strong potential for collaborations in manufacturing, R&D, and regional distribution—building on Malaysia’s established industrial ecosystem and ASEAN connectivity.

As Malaysia advances its economic transformation agenda, MIDA’s collaboration with Australian and New Zealand stakeholders will continue to play a critical role. With Malaysia concluding its role as the Chair for ASEAN in 2025, MIDA remains committed to fostering deeper regional integration and positioning Malaysia as a competitive, strategic, and sustainable hub for investments in the Asia–Pacific region.