NORWAY SEEKS DEEPER ECONOMIC TIES WITH ASEAN, MALAYSIA
By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali
KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- Norway is optimistic about boosting economic ties with ASEAN and Malaysia, focusing on sustainability, trade and green growth, said Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik.
In an exclusive interview with Bernama on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), Kravik began by thanking Malaysia for conducting its ASEAN chairmanship with professionalism and integrity.
“We're honoured to be here now as a sectoral dialogue partner. I was also fortunate enough to participate in the meeting in April.
“So, we've had numerous interactions now with ASEAN. We have an ASEAN ambassador, so we have a very clear commitment to ASEAN,” he said.
Noting that ASEAN is Norway’s fifth-largest trading bloc, Kravik highlighted the growing interest of Norwegian businesses in the region, particularly in efforts to tackle the climate crisis and support the green transition.
He said that as Deputy Foreign Minister, he is actively working to strengthen ties between Norway’s business sector and ASEAN countries, both through bilateral partnerships and by promoting broader engagement across the region.
On bilateral relations with Malaysia, Kravik said the two countries have long-standing economic ties, particularly in sectors such as seafood and oil and gas.
He noted that the signing of the free trade agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in June will open up new opportunities.
He reiterated the importance of the traditional sectors and described the current economic framework as more robust, with new and promising areas such as carbon capture, recycling, the circular economy, and the blue economy.
“So there's a whole host of opportunities. It's a matter of getting the right people to talk to each other and being creative, and that, I think, is a responsibility I have as the Deputy Foreign Minister,” he said.
Kravik also shared that he held several bilateral meetings during the AMM in Kuala Lumpur, including with Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister.
“My takeaway from all those interactions is that there's a great willingness on both sides to really try to foster more economic activity,” he said.
He added that Norway is working closely with its Malaysian counterparts to establish conducive frameworks beyond the newly signed FTA, with the aim of creating practical mechanisms to facilitate deeper economic engagement between the two countries.
The 58th AMM and Related Meetings, held under Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN chairmanship themed “Inclusivity and Sustainability”, feature 24 ministerial-level engagements, including sessions with ASEAN Dialogue and Sectoral Dialogue Partners.
The high-level meetings, taking place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from July 8 to 11, have drawn approximately 1,500 delegates.
-- BERNAMA
