On 26 January 2026, H.E. Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, was invited to attend the Malaysia’s Trade Performance event under the theme “Shaping New Opportunities,” organised by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) of Malaysia at the MATRADE Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur. YB Tuan Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy MITI Minister, delivered the keynote speech on behalf of YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, MITI Minister, while YB Dato’ Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE, presented a summary of key trade statistics. The event was well-attended by ambassadors and representatives of foreign embassies, as well as invited guests from the public and private sectors, academic, and the media, with a total of more than 600 participants.

 

The Ambassador met with the Deputy Minister; YBHG. Dato’ Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Deputy Secretary-General of MITI (Trade); Dato’ Ahmad Rozian bin Abd. Ghani, Deputy Secretary-General (Bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia; and senior executives of MATRADE, and received a briefing on Malaysia’s international trade statistics. In 2025, the country’s total trade reached RM 3.06 trillion, marking the first year in which trade value exceeded RM 3.0 trillion, representing a growth of 6.3%. Thailand was Malaysia’s 7th largest trading partner, with total Thailand - Malaysia bilateral trade valued at RM 118.58 billion, an increase of 3.5%.

 

In his keynote speech on Malaysia’s economic outlook for 2026, the Deputy MITI Minister projected the growth of 4.0 - 4.5%, and emphasised risk diversification through the opening of new markets, the acceleration of free trade agreement negotiations, the development of the digital economy, and the enhancement of industrial skills, while reaffirming the implementation of a neutral foreign policy to mitigate the impact of uncertainty in global trade.

 

In 2025, Malaysia was Thailand’s 5th largest trading partner in the world, and the 1st among ASEAN Member States. Thailand and Malaysia have set a target of achieving USD 30 billion in bilateral trade by 2027.