Speaking at a press conference at the conclusion of the three-nation visit which began in Italy on July 1, he said the trips also raised Malaysia’s visibility in its capacity as Asean chair for 2025.
Anwar, who was accompanied by a business delegation comprising representatives from Petronas, Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Maybank, FGV and YTL, also said the trips opened wider networks for Malaysian companies to expand internationally.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the visit to Italy generated over RM8 billion in potential investments while the engagements in France brought in RM4 billion.
His inaugural official visit to Italy came at the invitation of Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and was aimed at deepening bilateral relations across a broad range of sectors.
While investment and trade were key priorities, Anwar said the trip also provided an opportunity to address geopolitical issues.
Anwar said Malaysia’s firm stance on humanitarian issues in the Middle East was conveyed clearly, especially on the situation in Gaza and attacks on Iran.
He noted that Meloni, French president Emmanuel Macron, and Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were aligned in their calls for an end to the violence in Gaza, which has reportedly claimed some 56,000 lives.
Responding to claims that the visits benefited European nations more, particularly in relation to aircraft purchases, Anwar said the deals would yield long-term benefits for Malaysia.
He said Malaysia was seeking to position itself as a hub for aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus and Embraer, particularly in areas like maintenance, repair and overhaul, training, and supply chain activities.
Anwar said he used the opportunity to speak at the BRICS Business Forum to stress the need for justice between developed and developing nations, and to raise concerns over the governance of artificial intelligence technologies.
The visit to Brazil for the 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit also allowed Anwar to hold discussions with world leaders such as Narendra Modi (India), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Pham Minh Chinh (Vietnam), and Mostafa Madbouly (Egypt).
Anwar, who met New Development Bank president Dilma Rousseff, also said that Malaysia’s potential membership in the bank would be considered after a detailed assessment by Bank Negara Malaysia.