PM Anwar Engages Italian Industry Leaders to Boost Strategic Investments in Malaysia

ROME|| July 2: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim began the second day of his working visit to Italy with high-level discussions aimed at deepening bilateral business ties, particularly in the defense and energy sectors.

Anwar held one-on-one meetings with senior executives from leading Italian firms, including defense giants Fincantieri and Leonardo, both of which recently participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA).

“These engagements mark the beginning of long-term strategic collaborations,” Anwar said in a statement on Thursday. “I emphasized the importance of a government-to-government approach in enhancing Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO).”

The Prime Minister met with Fincantieri CEO Pierroberto Folgiero, Leonardo’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Campaigns Tomasso Pani, and Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Italian energy multinational ENI. The discussions also involved PETRONAS President and Group CEO Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Kamadjaja Aziz.

An interactive session was held following the meetings, moderated by Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. During the session, several Italian company representatives shared their positive experiences of doing business in Malaysia.

One executive praised Malaysia’s financial stability and its people, saying, “We have worked with major entities in Abu Dhabi and several cities in China, but Malaysia is almost perfect. It is a developed nation in the South Pacific region with strong infrastructure and an efficient business environment.”

Most participants commended the Malaysian government’s ongoing efforts in fostering a secure and investor-friendly ecosystem, noting it has positioned the country as an ideal trade and investment destination in the region.

Anwar’s engagements in Italy are part of a broader effort to attract high-value investments and strengthen Malaysia’s role in global supply chains, particularly in sectors critical to national development.