Malaysia pledges deeper renewable and connectivity ties within ASEAN sub-regional growth triangle
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said Malaysia will boost renewable energy and transport links with Indonesia and Thailand to expand ASEAN sub-regional markets.
During the IMT-GT Ministerial Meeting in Medan, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir announced Malaysia’s intention to intensify cooperation on renewable energy and cross-border connectivity with Indonesia and Thailand. He referenced the existing 2022-2026 implementation blueprint and introduced a forthcoming 2027-2031 plan that will feed into the IMT-GT Vision 2036. Key focus areas include the ASEAN Power Grid, digital transformation, and green-economy initiatives, leveraging the close proximity of Kuala Lumpur and Medan.
The joint statement praised recent gains in GDP per-capita, foreign direct investment, trade volume and lower unemployment, all surpassing 2026 goals. Ministers also stressed AI and digitalisation as strategic enablers for productivity and resilience. Malaysia offered to host the next IMT-GT summit in Langkawi in September 2027.
Why it matters
Stronger energy and transport links could boost trade, investment and resilience across the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand sub-region.
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