Australian organisations have established new partnerships in Malaysia aimed at supporting economic cooperation between the two countries and across Southeast Asia.
A recent business mission to Malaysia, organised by Austrade's Investment Deals Team, brought a delegation of Australian companies and investors to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit and the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum 2025. The delegation was led by Tony Lombardo, CEO of Lendlease and Australia's Business Champion for Malaysia, alongside Catherine Gallagher, Austrade's General Manager for Southeast Asia.
© Australian Gov
Australia's Special Envoy to Southeast Asia, Nicholas Moore, also took part in the mission, promoting the government's Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. Over the past two years, implementation of the strategy has included 21 business and investment delegations involving more than 500 participants across 10 Southeast Asian countries.
New investment commitments
The business mission coincided with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's attendance at the ASEAN-Australia Summit in Malaysia. During the visit, the Prime Minister announced two new investment commitments intended to support opportunities for Australian investors and businesses in the region.
The Australian Government will invest A$175 million in IFM Investors' Asia-Pacific Debt Fund, supporting IFM's expansion into Southeast Asia. The fund will focus on sectors such as renewable energy, telecommunications, and logistics.
In addition, the government will invest US$50 million in a Southeast Asia Public-Private Partnership (PPP) investment fund established by Australian infrastructure company Plenary. The fund will finance public infrastructure projects in sectors including healthcare, education, and transport.
Both investments fall under the government's A$2 billion Southeast Asia Investment Financing Facility (SEAIFF).
Growing Australia–Malaysia cooperation
During the mission, Nicholas Moore highlighted progress made since the launch of the economic strategy in 2022, noting that nearly A$1 billion in new Australian investment has been recorded under the initiative.
A series of new partnerships also underscored the expanding cooperation between Australia and Malaysia. In Kuala Lumpur's Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) financial district, Lendlease released the Invested in Malaysia to 2040 prospectus outlining areas for Australian investment. Lendlease designed The Exchange TRX, the district's flagship development.
Monash University announced plans to open an expanded campus in the TRX precinct by 2032, with capacity for 22,500 students and 1,700 staff, furthering collaboration in education, research, and skills development.
Export Finance Australia and Malaysia's EXIM Bank signed an MOU to support regional investment in sectors including energy transition, infrastructure, the digital economy, and healthcare, with a focus on co-financing and risk-sharing for Australian businesses operating in Southeast Asia.
The Port of Melbourne and Malaysia's Port of Tanjung Pelepas also formalised a partnership aimed at advancing sustainable port operations and supporting maritime decarbonisation. The two ports first connected during a business mission to Malaysia in April 2024.
For more information:
Australian Government
Tel: +61 2 9392 2873
Email: [email protected]
www.austrade.gov.au
