Pm Making 4 Day Official Visit To Turkiye

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Ismail Sabri Yaakob will lead a delegation that includes four ministers, as well as the army and air force chiefs. (Bernama pic)ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will embark on a four-day official visit to Turkiye from tomorrow as both countries strive to strengthen their bilateral and economic ties, as well as forge closer cooperation in the aerospace and defence industries.
Malaysia’s ambassador to Turkiye, Sazali Mustafa Kamal, said that during the visit, which is at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both leaders are also expected to touch on post-pandemic cooperation.
“The inaugural meeting between the two leaders will open more opportunities for cooperation between the two countries,” he told Malaysian journalists here today.
“Apart from bilateral cooperation, both leaders are expected to discuss issues concerning Ukraine and food security.”

Ismail is scheduled to meet Erdogan at the presidential complex in Ankara on Thursday, followed by a delegation meeting between Malaysia and Turkiye.
Ismail will be accompanied by foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah, international trade and industry minister Azmin Ali, science, technology and innovation minister Dr Adham Baba, special functions minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad, air force chief Asghar Khan Goriman Khan and army chief Zamrose Mohd Zain.
Upon his arrival at the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, Ismail will be given a briefing on the airport, which is owned and managed by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).
MAHB’s involvement in ISGIA, which started in 2008, has now become one of the landmark symbols of Malaysia-Turkiye business relations.
The airport, one of two international airports serving Istanbul, is in the Asian part of the bi-continental Istanbul and is named after Sabiha Gökçen, the first female fighter pilot in the world.
“MAHB has invested about €500 million (RM2.3 billion) in the Sabiha airport project and is looking at more such projects in the country,” Sazali said on the airport, which is the second largest in Turkiye and the world’s busiest single runway and terminal.
He said Ismail will then host a luncheon for Malaysians residing in the country, before holding meetings with Turkish business communities,
About 15 memorandum of understanding (MoU) and Letter of Intent (LoI) are expected to be signed during the visit.
Sazali said Turkiye is Malaysia’s third-biggest trading partner in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia and UAE, with total trade between the two countries at RM16.97 billion in 2021, and projects implemented valued at RM444.59 million.
In 2021, Malaysia exported more than US$1.06 billion (RM4.67 billion) worth of palm oil and palm oil products to support the growing demand, particularly in the Turkish food industry as well as the home and personal care industry.
Sazali said Ismail will travel to the capital Ankara on Wednesday, where he is scheduled to visit the country’s two major players in defence and aerospace – MKE Corporation and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
He asaid that the reopening of borders is expected to revive the tourism industries between both countries, adding that 107,000 Malaysians visited the country in 2019, while 15,000 Turkish tourists came to Malaysia.
Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1964. - FMT

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