History

Established in 1987, the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre, Taipei (MFTC) serves as Malaysia’s official representative office in Taipei.

MFTC undertakes a broad range of functions, including promoting Malaysia’s economic interests through trade and investment, enhancing Malaysia’s profile as a preferred destination for business, tourism and education, and facilitating institutional cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Malaysia and Taiwan. In addition, the Centre provides consular assistance and support to Malaysians in Taiwan, as part of its commitment to safeguarding their welfare while they are abroad.

Economic engagement remains one of the key pillars of Malaysia’s engagement with Taiwan. In 2025, total trade reached USD54.49 billion, compared to USD38.63 billion in the previous year. This growth elevated Taiwan to become Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner, accounting for 7.6% of Malaysia’s total trade. The positive momentum has continued into 2026, with total trade amounting to USD37.10 billion between January and June.

Investment cooperation has likewise remained strong. Between 1980 and March 2026, Taiwan ranked as Malaysia’s ninth-largest investor, recording 2,719 approved manufacturing projects with USD16.7 billion in potential investments and generating more than 407,138 employment opportunities.

Beyond trade and investment, people-to-people exchanges remain a defining feature of Malaysia’s engagement with Taiwan. As of May 2026, approximately 34,927 Malaysians reside in Taiwan, reflecting the strong and enduring presence of the Malaysian community. 

Complementing this is the steady flow of travellers between Malaysia and Taiwan. Between January and May 2026, 175,538 Malaysians travelled to Taiwan, while 179,216 visitors from Taiwan travelled to Malaysia, further strengthening the longstanding people-to-people ties between Malaysia and Taiwan.