Guinea-Bissau to be Malaysia's gateway into Africa, says Anwar
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Guinea-Bissau are set to strengthen bilateral ties by positioning each other as regional hubs to boost trade, investment and cooperation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said Malaysia would serve as Guinea-Bissau's gateway to Asean, while Guinea-Bissau would act as Malaysia's entry point into Africa.
"Of course, Guinea-Bissau and Malaysia have had very low-key engagements in the past. That's why I think President Umaro's (General Umaro Sissoco Embaló) visit is very significant.
"He has that vision to work with us, to engage with Malaysia as a base for the Asean region, and we accept Guinea-Bissau's role in expanding our relations in trade, investment, and other fields.
"He is meeting, hopefully, Petronas and FGV this evening to explore potential in both Malaysia and Guinea-Bissau — not only at the national level, but also to use this as a base to expand into the African subregion and continent, as well as Malaysia and beyond," Anwar said at a joint press conference held in conjunction with Embaló's visit today.
He said both leaders had also discussed cooperation in halal certification, Islamic banking and finance, as well as training opportunities in fields such as semiconductors, oil and gas, and food technology.
"We are ready to offer some assistance, as we have done under the MTCP (Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme), a large programme which will be coordinated by Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Ghani," he said.
Anwar said they also discussed international affairs, adding that Embaló maintained strong ties with the United Arab Emirates, France, Russia, the United States, and across Africa.
"I think we, as a trading nation, and with Malaysia's and Asean's policy of centrality, engage with all countries — and this aligns closely with the position taken by President Umaro.
"So I would say that this is going to be your second home, and we, my colleagues and the people of Malaysia, are extremely glad that you have now taken the initiative to forge this new, close relationship based on trust and affinity with Malaysia."
Embaló pledged his commitment to implementing the discussions, saying he had instructed his foreign minister to work closely with Malaysia to realise the agreements.
He also expressed admiration for Malaysia's achievements in education, healthcare, and industry, saying Guinea-Bissau hoped to learn from its experience.
"We want to be the key for Malaysia in Africa, and Malaysia can be the key for us — not just in Asia, but in the world," he said.
Malaysia and Guinea-Bissau established diplomatic relations in November 1974.
Ties remain cordial, with cooperation on bilateral and multilateral platforms including the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
In 2024, Malaysia's total trade with Guinea-Bissau stood at RM4.1 million — with RM4.04 million in exports and RM60,000 in imports.
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