Taiwan Representative to Malaysia: Penang Needs Taiwan, Hopes for Renewal of Taiwan-Malaysia Investment Protection Agreement
Taiwan's representative in Malaysia, Lian Yu-ping, emphasized the mutual need between Taiwan and Penang, calling for the renewal of the Taiwan-Malaysia Investment Protection Agreement (BIA) signed over 30 years ago. She also urged the Malaysian government to support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 13:56
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Zhong Rong-feng, Penang, Malaysia, 29th) Taiwan's representative to Malaysia, Lian Yu-ping, stated today that Taiwan needs Penang, and Penang also needs Taiwan. She called on the Malaysian government to promptly initiate negotiations to update the Taiwan-Malaysia Investment Protection Agreement (BIA), which was signed over 30 years ago, and expressed hope that Malaysia would support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Lian Yu-ping was invited to attend the opening of TECOBAR, a new plant in Penang, Malaysia, under the electrical machinery giant TECO, and stated that Taiwan and Malaysia have complementary industrial relations. Taiwan is currently Malaysia's fourth-largest trading partner and seventh-largest foreign investment source.
According to statistics, the bilateral trade volume between Taiwan and Malaysia is projected to reach a record high of 233 billion Malaysian Ringgit (approximately USD 57.4 billion) in 2025, a growth of 32.3%. Taiwan's cumulative investment in Malaysia has reached USD 16.5 billion, creating 406,163 high-skilled job opportunities. Among these, Penang is the preferred location for Taiwanese business investment, with cumulative Taiwanese business investment in Penang reaching USD 2.984 billion, creating 86,000 job opportunities, mostly in the electronic and electrical industry, related to semiconductors, data centers, and AI applications.
Lian Yu-ping pointed out that many multinational corporations invest in Penang, and Taiwanese manufacturers bring in advanced technology and talent, developing locally and growing together with the local government. This is an advantage for Taiwanese investors.
Lian Yu-ping noted that the Taiwanese government is actively promoting "value-added diplomacy" centered on "contribution," hoping not only to bring in capital but also to commit to cooperating with local supply chains and promoting transformation and upgrading. She stated that the advantage of Taiwanese enterprises lies in their ability to localize and transfer technology to help partners improve their industrial standards.
Lian Yu-ping said that Taiwanese enterprises are developing in Penang, and Taiwan needs Penang, and Penang also needs Taiwan. Taiwan can bring advanced technology and establish a complete ecosystem and industrial cluster in Penang.
Regarding the progress of trade between Taiwan and Malaysia, Lian Yu-ping said in an interview that in the face of large-scale shifts in industrial supply chains, to attract more Taiwanese businesses to invest in Malaysia and provide them with comprehensive investment protection, she called on the Malaysian government to prioritize the modernization of investment protection regulations, promptly initiate negotiations, and update the Taiwan-Malaysia Investment Protection Agreement (BIA), which was signed over 30 years ago.
Lian Yu-ping pointed out that Taiwan also hopes Malaysia will support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), allowing Taiwanese and Malaysian enterprises to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, realizing free trade between the two countries, which would be even more beneficial for investment in Penang.
Lian Yu-ping said that Taiwan has a strong advantage in the semiconductor industry and must strategically plan its global layout to grasp the next global deployment point, considering the principle of fair and reciprocal treatment from partner countries. Besides semiconductors and data centers, robotics is also one of the business opportunities for deployment. (Edited by Zhang Jun-mao) 1150429
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(Central News Agency reporter Zhong Rong-feng, Penang, Malaysia, 29th) Taiwan's representative to Malaysia, Lian Yu-ping, stated today that Taiwan needs Penang, and Penang also needs Taiwan. She called on the Malaysian government to promptly initiate negotiations to update the Taiwan-Malaysia Investment Protection Agreement (BIA), which was signed over 30 years ago, and expressed hope that Malaysia would support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Lian Yu-ping was invited to attend the opening of TECOBAR, a new plant in Penang, Malaysia, under the electrical machinery giant TECO, and stated that Taiwan and Malaysia have complementary industrial relations. Taiwan is currently Malaysia's fourth-largest trading partner and seventh-largest foreign investment source.
According to statistics, the bilateral trade volume between Taiwan and Malaysia is projected to reach a record high of 233 billion Malaysian Ringgit (approximately USD 57.4 billion) in 2025, a growth of 32.3%. Taiwan's cumulative investment in Malaysia has reached USD 16.5 billion, creating 406,163 high-skilled job opportunities. Among these, Penang is the preferred location for Taiwanese business investment, with cumulative Taiwanese business investment in Penang reaching USD 2.984 billion, creating 86,000 job opportunities, mostly in the electronic and electrical industry, related to semiconductors, data centers, and AI applications.
Lian Yu-ping pointed out that many multinational corporations invest in Penang, and Taiwanese manufacturers bring in advanced technology and talent, developing locally and growing together with the local government. This is an advantage for Taiwanese investors.
Lian Yu-ping noted that the Taiwanese government is actively promoting "value-added diplomacy" centered on "contribution," hoping not only to bring in capital but also to commit to cooperating with local supply chains and promoting transformation and upgrading. She stated that the advantage of Taiwanese enterprises lies in their ability to localize and transfer technology to help partners improve their industrial standards.
Lian Yu-ping said that Taiwanese enterprises are developing in Penang, and Taiwan needs Penang, and Penang also needs Taiwan. Taiwan can bring advanced technology and establish a complete ecosystem and industrial cluster in Penang.
Regarding the progress of trade between Taiwan and Malaysia, Lian Yu-ping said in an interview that in the face of large-scale shifts in industrial supply chains, to attract more Taiwanese businesses to invest in Malaysia and provide them with comprehensive investment protection, she called on the Malaysian government to prioritize the modernization of investment protection regulations, promptly initiate negotiations, and update the Taiwan-Malaysia Investment Protection Agreement (BIA), which was signed over 30 years ago.
Lian Yu-ping pointed out that Taiwan also hopes Malaysia will support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), allowing Taiwanese and Malaysian enterprises to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, realizing free trade between the two countries, which would be even more beneficial for investment in Penang.
Lian Yu-ping said that Taiwan has a strong advantage in the semiconductor industry and must strategically plan its global layout to grasp the next global deployment point, considering the principle of fair and reciprocal treatment from partner countries. Besides semiconductors and data centers, robotics is also one of the business opportunities for deployment. (Edited by Zhang Jun-mao) 1150429
Stand with the facts, every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.