Belgian deputy PM Prevot begins first Malaysia visit with focus on clean energy and trade

SEPANG, July 2 — Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, Maxime Prevot, arrived in Malaysia today for a two-day working visit, his first to the country since assuming office in February 2025.

He arrived with his delegation at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 at 10.48am on a commercial flight and was received by the Malaysian Government’s chief ceremony officer Datuk Rozainor Ramli.

Also present was Malaysia’s chief of protocol Datuk Ikram Mohammad Ibrahim.

Prevot’s visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and Belgium.

He is scheduled to hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

The meeting is expected to review the current state of Malaysia-Belgium relations and explore opportunities to expand cooperation, particularly in renewable energy, rare earth elements and the halal industry.

Both sides are also expected to exchange views on Malaysia-European Union relations as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.

Prevot is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address entitled “Europe and a Changing Asia Pacific” at the 39th Asia-Pacific Roundtable organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies and to have an audience with the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.

Total bilateral trade between Malaysia and Belgium amounted to RM9.74 billion in 2025, comprising RM6.85 billion in Malaysian exports and RM2.89 billion in imports.

As of 2025, a total of 67 projects with Belgian participation had been approved, involving investments worth RM5.1 billion with the potential to create 4,605 jobs. — Bernama