Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh to Finalize 9 Development MoUs

Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Photo: Yazeed al-Samrani)
Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Photo: Yazeed al-Samrani)
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Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh to Finalize 9 Development MoUs

Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Photo: Yazeed al-Samrani)
Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Photo: Yazeed al-Samrani)

A Malaysian diplomat revealed that discussions with Saudi Arabia were underway to finalize nine memoranda of understanding to enhance bilateral cooperation.

He noted that Kuala Lumpur and Riyadh have signed agreements on 18 industrial projects since December 2021, with total investments of $1.65 billion, which are expected to generate around 2,560 job opportunities.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Datuk Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah, Ambassador of Malaysia Riyadh, said: “Malaysia and the Kingdom have signed a total of 26 MoUs and agreements, and there are around 9 MoUs currently being discussed by the two sides based on the mutual visits that took place this year.”

“The two countries look forward to increasing their cooperation, including in the field of diplomatic training, health, housing development, and many other areas in the coming year.”

Datuk pointed that the two countries signed three new agreements in March 2021 during the official visit of then-Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to the Kingdom. Those included the establishment of the Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council, an MoU on the Umrah pilgrims, an another on Islamic affairs.

According to Datuk, the projects were mainly focused on chemical industries, food processing, electronics, electrical products, textile, and plastics.

He noted that the Kingdom’s main investments in Malaysia include Petronas, a joint venture with Saudi Aramco in the Pengerang Integrated Complex (BIC), as well as a partnership in Al-Rajhi Bank.

On the two countries’ cooperation in the fields of electronic industries, technology, mining, green economy, hydrogen and renewable energy, the ambassador explained that Riyadh and Kuala Lumpur signed the minutes of the establishment of the Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council in March 2021, during the official visit of the former Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia, hoping that the council would serve as a comprehensive bilateral forum for consultations, chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries.

“Malaysia enjoys close relations with the Kingdom, based on common values and aspirations to strengthen the unity of the Islamic nation. The deep-rooted ties are built on extensive contacts between the peoples of the two countries,” Datuk told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“The massive economic transformation in the Kingdom over the past decades, which coincided with the economic development of Malaysia, has greatly contributed to this multifaceted bilateral cooperation.”

He added that in 2021, Saudi Arabia was Malaysia’s 17th trading partner, the 25th largest export destination, and the 15th largest source of imports, while Malaysia was Saudi Arabia’s 12th trading partner and the 21st export destination in 2020.

Datuk continued: “From January to September 2022, the total trade between the two countries increased by 135.1 percent, to $7.32 billion, compared to $3.11 billion in the same period in 2021… Exports increased by 51 percent to $1.3 billion, compared to $860 million for the same period last year.”

He explained that the main Malaysian exports to the Kingdom included palm oil agricultural products, petroleum products, processed foods, electronics, and palm oil-based products.

Imports from Saudi Arabia include, according to Datuk, chemical and petroleum products, metal industries, and rubber merchandises.



Urgent Financial Tasks Await Lebanon’s Emerging Government

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
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Urgent Financial Tasks Await Lebanon’s Emerging Government

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stands between Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati (dpa)

A broad internal consensus, encompassing both political and economic dimensions, is taking shape to adopt the principles outlined in the presidential inauguration address as the foundation of the new government’s program and ministerial statement. This approach aims to sustain Lebanon’s immediate and strong positive momentum, which is reinforced by widespread support on both Arab and international levels.

Economic bodies and professional unions representing business sectors have openly expressed their relief and full support for the strategic directions set by President Joseph Aoun following his election. However, they have made it clear that maintaining this positive momentum depends on the formation of a reform-oriented rescue government, composed of competent, experienced, and honest ministers. This government must also collaborate constructively with the president.

According to a senior financial official, the rescue mission will be challenging due to years of governmental inaction and constitutional voids, which led to a deterioration in public sector operations and the accumulation of economic, financial, and monetary crises over the past five years. These challenges were further compounded by a devastating war, which inflicted severe human and financial losses estimated at approximately $10 billion, thereby worsening the country’s financial gap, now estimated at $72 billion.

Economic and banking circles are looking to the new government to swiftly capitalize on extensive international support by restoring trust and reestablishing financial channels between Lebanon and its regional and international partners. Key to this effort are explicit and transparent commitments to combating illegal economic activities, corruption, smuggling, money laundering, and drug trafficking. In parallel, the government must prioritize strengthening judicial independence and implementing strict controls over land, sea, and air borders.

The national consensus evident in the presidential election, according to Mohammad Choucair, head of Lebanon’s economic associations, paves the way for constructive collaboration among political factions. This collaboration is crucial for addressing challenges, rebuilding the state, and benefiting from renewed international and Arab—particularly Gulf and Saudi—interest in Lebanon. Choucair emphasized the importance of normalizing relations with Gulf nations, supporting Lebanon’s recovery, and providing resources for reconstruction efforts.

One of the urgent tasks for the new government, according to the financial official, is revisiting the draft 2024 state budget, which was previously submitted to parliament. Adjustments are necessary to address fundamental discrepancies in expenditure and revenue projections, taking into account significant changes brought about by the Israeli war.

Ibrahim Kanaan, chairman of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, described the budget as “unrealistic, if not entirely fictitious,” particularly in its revenue estimates. He pointed out that revenue increases were based on income and capital taxes, internal duties, and trade-related fees, all of which have been severely impacted by the war.

Reassuring depositors, both domestic and expatriate, who have suffered massive losses over recent years, is another pressing issue. These losses were exacerbated by the inability of successive governments to implement a comprehensive rescue plan addressing the $72 billion financial gap fairly. The situation was worsened by mismanagement in the electricity sector and the squandering of over $20 billion in central bank reserves following the onset of the financial crisis.

In response to Aoun’s commitment to a fair resolution for depositors, the Association of Banks in Lebanon welcomed his emphasis on safeguarding deposits. It also expressed its readiness to collaborate with the central bank and the government to protect depositors’ rights, citing a recent State Council ruling that prohibits any financial recovery plans from including measures that would erode depositors’ funds.

In its final session, the caretaker government addressed long-standing creditor issues by unanimously agreeing to suspend Lebanon’s right to invoke statutes of limitations on claims by foreign bondholders under New York law. This suspension, effective until March 9, 2028, aims to facilitate future negotiations.

With this decision, the caretaker government tacitly acknowledged Lebanon’s pending debt obligations, including over $10 billion in suspended interest payments on Eurobonds and approximately $30 billion in principal debt. The resolution now awaits direct negotiations under the new administration, which faces the challenge of resolving a nearly five-year-old crisis triggered by the previous government’s uncoordinated decision to halt payments on all Eurobond obligations through 2037.

Caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil emphasized that despite the difficult circumstances, “Lebanon remains committed to reaching a fair and consensual resolution regarding the restructuring of Eurobond debt.”