Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has invited Ethiopia to establish an embassy in Kuala Lumpur as Malaysia seeks to deepen bilateral ties and expand economic cooperation with the African nation.
Anwar extended the invitation during a bilateral meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on Saturday.
The move comes after Malaysia reopened its embassy in Addis Ababa in September 2025, ending a 43-year closure and marking a step forward in bilateral relations.
Both leaders also agreed to hold their first Bilateral Consultation in Kuala Lumpur next year to further strengthen cooperation. Their discussions covered halal products, agriculture, food security, pharmaceuticals, digital services, renewable energy and tourism.
Anwar also thanked Ethiopia for supporting Malaysia’s engagement with BRICS. Malaysia has held Partner Country status in the bloc since Jan 1, 2025.
Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Ethiopia stood at RM446.8 million in 2023, with Malaysian exports reaching RM358.6 million, up 24.6% from the previous year.
The leaders’ meeting followed reciprocal visits, with Abiy visiting Malaysia in 2024 and Anwar travelling to Ethiopia in 2025.
