Proton and Uzbekistan ambassador explore joint automotive prospects

KUALA LUMPUR: Proton remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering international ties as it recently hosted the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Malaysia, His Excellency Karomidin Gadoev, and embassy representatives at its Tanjong Malim facility. The purpose was to explore future cooperation opportunities between the two nations.

Roslan Abdullah, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of PROTON, and Tengku Zainudin Tengku Jafar, Head of Regulatory Management, DRB-HICOM, and other senior members of the company’s senior management extended a warm welcome to the esteemed delegation. 

Reflecting on the visit, the ambassador highlighted the deep historical ties between Uzbekistan and Malaysia. “Malaysia is a long-term and dependable friend of Uzbekistan, as we are connected by centuries-old trade and cultural ties, friendship, and spiritual closeness. In the last few years, bilateral economic relations between Uzbekistan and Malaysia are steadily developing.”

Uzbekistan currently hosts 36 successful Malaysian companies, while one Uzbek company operates in Malaysia. However, by the end of 2024, three more Malaysian companies are scheduled to launch operations in Uzbekistan. The ongoing talks with various Malaysian industry players on establishing joint investment projects are also in the pipeline. 

“We therefore think, there is huge untapped potential between Uzbekistan and Malaysia in terms of bilateral economic relations. Today we had a fruitful meeting with Mr. Roslan Abdullah, DCEO of PROTON, to discuss the prospects of joint cooperation in the automotive industry and we hope this cooperation will benefit both countries,” the ambassador added.

Sharing this sentiment, Roslan Abdullah emphasised PROTON's commitment to international partnerships and expressed gratitude for the visit. “PROTON is always looking for partners to expand our reach being an international OEM is one of our brand pillars. Therefore, we are thankful for the visit from the Ambassador of Uzbekistan and his delegation and hope there will be some positive developments to report on in the future,” he concluded.

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