6th German-Malaysian Business Forum Convenes in Kuching to Deepen Bilateral Economic Ties
High-level dialogue between German business leaders and Sarawak’s top policymakers signals growing momentum for investment in Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing green economy frontier.
Key Highlights
- The 6th German-Malaysian Business Forum (GMBF) brought together over 50 business leaders and government officials to advance bilateral trade and investment dialogue in Kuching, Malaysia.
- Key topics included renewable energy, talent development, semiconductors, and digital economy development, with high-level engagements featuring Sarawak’s Deputy Premier and the German Ambassador to Malaysia.
- MGCC’s flagship forum was held in conjunction with a business delegation to Sarawak comprising German and Malaysian companies across key industrial and technology sectors, from 5–8 May 2026.
Kuching, 6 May 2026 — The 6th German-Malaysian Business Forum (GMBF) was held today at The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching, bringing together over 50 senior representatives from German and Malaysian industry with senior officials from the Sarawak state government. The flagship forum of the Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MGCC) served as a platform for substantive dialogue on trade, investment, and the economic opportunities emerging from Sarawak’s ambitious transformation agenda.
The forum opened with a Fireside Chat featuring InvestSarawak Chief Executive Officer Timothy Ong, H.E. Silke Riecken-Daerr, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Malaysia, and Hannes Farlock, Executive Director of MGCC. The exchange set the tone for a forum focused on translating strategic intent into concrete economic partnership.
“Sarawak is open for business, and we are committed to building partnerships that are long-term, sustainable, and mutually beneficial. Germany represents exactly the kind of high-quality investment partner we seek, one that brings technology, expertise, and a shared commitment to a greener future. Today’s forum has reaffirmed our confidence that the foundation for a deeper Sarawak-Germany economic relationship is firmly in place,” YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED).
A roundtable with the Deputy Premier followed, enabling direct engagement between German industry and Sarawak’s senior leadership on investment priorities, regulatory enablers, and sectoral opportunities, including renewable energy, talent development, high-tech manufacturing, and semiconductors.
The afternoon featured a dedicated dialogue with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), and Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS), underscoring the centrality of digital infrastructure and technology in Sarawak’s development roadmap.
“When you fly into Kuching and look out over that vast, ancient rainforest stretching to the horizon, you begin to understand the scale of what Sarawak is and what it is becoming. This is a land that powered economies for generations through its natural resources, and is now channelling that same energy into semiconductors, green hydrogen, and the industries of the future. For German companies still mapping their next move in Southeast Asia, Sarawak deserves to be on that map and we at MGCC are ready to help you find your place in it,” said Mr. Farlock.
The 6th GMBF was held in conjunction with a business delegation to Sarawak, organised by MGCC, comprising 17 companies from both German and Malaysian businesses across key industrial and technology sectors.
The programme also featured technical site visits to X-FAB Sarawak and SMD Semiconductor (Sarawak Microelectronics Design) at the Sama Jaya Free Industrial Zone in Kuching, offering delegates first-hand exposure to Sarawak’s expanding semiconductor industry.
