Korea, Malaysia discuss expanding trade cooperation, industry ties
Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) Chairperson Youn Young-mi, second from left, shakes hands with Malyasian Ambassador Mohd Zamruni Khalid, second from right, and other officials at the KOIMA headquarters in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of KOIMA
The Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) held talks Monday with Malaysia’s ambassador to Korea to discuss ways to expand bilateral trade cooperation and strengthen industry ties, the association said.
The meeting took place at the association’s headquarters in Seoul.
KOIMA Chairperson Youn Young-mi said Malaysia is playing an increasingly important role as the 2025 chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, underscoring its position as a key trading partner for Korea. She highlighted Malaysia’s stable supply of critical raw materials, including palm oil and liquefied natural gas, which she said are essential to Korea’s manufacturing and energy sectors.
Youn noted that Korea has strong technological capabilities in refining and processing imported raw materials into high value-added products, adding that there is significant potential for the two countries to deepen cooperation across a wide range of industries.
She said KOIMA is planning to dispatch an import delegation to Malaysia in May and will work closely with the ASEAN-Korea Centre to help generate more practical and measurable outcomes. Yoon also expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s support for participating as a national pavilion at the Korea Import Expo, scheduled for June.
Ambassador Khalid said Malaysia places great importance on expanding trade and investment ties with Korea and welcomed closer engagement between companies from both countries. He noted that through MATRADE, Malaysia hosts the world’s largest halal food business-to-business exhibition each year, the Malaysia International Halal Showcase, and encouraged Korean firms to explore opportunities in the industry.
He added that stronger cooperation could help both countries diversify supply chains and enhance economic resilience amid global uncertainty.
The meeting reflected shared interest in expanding trade ties and promoting broader industrial collaboration between Korea and Malaysia, according to KOIMA.