What kind of experience do you want visitors to have at the Malaysia Pavilion?
In line with Expo 2025’s overarching theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” the pavilion’s concept invites visitors to explore how harmony across culture, nature and technology can shape more resilient societies. Rooted in this vision, the pavilion is shaped by three main act – cultural hall showcasing Malaysia as a cultural bridge and heritage champion, progress; progress hall, positioning the country as an innovation-ready partner; and sustainability hall, emphasizing environmental stewardship.
Therefore, the pavilion offers a platform for reflection on how diverse perspectives can coexist and evolve together in building a better collective future. The story was guided by the MADANI framework that is championed by our current Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim with the aspiration to express Malaysia’s contribution to global conversations on sustainability and inclusivity. It draws from the country’s multicultural identity and long-standing commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship and social cohesion. Its architectural elements draw from multiethnic traditions, while its programming features performances and cuisine from across the nation. Recently, the Malaysia Pavilion has also unveiled “Lina” as its official mascot. Lina represents a Malaysian girl who embarks on a journey of discovery and balance, guided by her older self through a future-inspired realm. Her evolving batik “selempang”, breaking and reforming into songket symbolizes transformation, identity, and hope. The vision of Lina is a reflection of the next generation of Malaysians who are thoughtful, empowered, and rooted in heritage while embracing global sustainability ideals.
We invite visitors to experience how harmony between culture, nature and technology can shape a more resilient and inclusive future. Through thoughtfully designed spaces like the Cultural Hall, the Passage of Progress and the weekly-changing Thematic Corners, the Pavilion encourages visitors to reflect on the value of diversity whether cultural, ecological or technological as a strength that drives progress. At the same time, we want visitors to leave the Pavilion with a deeper understanding of Malaysia’s values. We want them to see how we embrace diversity, foster collaboration and believe in the power of culture, nature and technology to build a better world for everyone.
How are Malaysian companies and institutions getting involved with the Malaysia Pavilion?
The Malaysia Pavilion serves as a springboard for Malaysian companies and institutions to engage with global stakeholders across trade, investment and innovation. Malaysia Pavillion programmes has taken a whole-of-government approach, with active participation from 21 federal ministries and around 70 agencies. Over the course of Expo 2025, business weeks are hosted in collaboration with federal ministries and state agencies, each featuring a range of showcases, business matching, B2B forums, MoU signings and industry seminars.
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), as the lead agency appointed by MITI, plays a central role in facilitating the Pavilion’s business programme. This platform offers dedicated spaces and tailored support for networking, promoting Malaysian products and services, and fostering strategic partnerships that enhance Malaysia’s global brand and commercial reach at the Expo.
Through the participation at Expo 2025 Osaka, Malaysia has successfully secured more than RM8 billion in potential trade and signed 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). This achievement represents 61.54% of the overall RM13 billion target that has been set. Among these efforts, targeted business matching sessions and one-on-one engagements led by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) with Japanese companies held in Kyoto, Kobe, Osaka and Tokyo secured RM4.68 billion in investment leads.
What role is Malaysian food playing in bringing people together at the Malaysia Pavilion?
Food is one of Malaysia’s most powerful cultural connectors. At the Pavilion, it plays a central role in fostering people-to-people engagement. The Pavilion cafeteria has become a daily highlight, consistently drawing crowds with live demonstrations of iconic Malaysian dishes such as roti canai terbang (“flying roti canai”) and teh tarik (“pulled tea”). These displays of food diplomacy not only entertain but also offer authentic sensory experiences that spark curiosity and conversation among international visitors.
Malaysian cuisine is also presented as a storytelling medium within the Pavilion’s Cultural Hall, where visitors can explore the unique gastronomic landscapes of the country’s diverse regions. Each dish conveys Malaysia’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, and shared values — providing an engaging narrative of the nation’s identity.
In addition, Malaysia is leveraging Halal diplomacy to deepen bilateral ties and promote global collaboration. Through the globally recognized JAKIM certification — a benchmark of quality and compliance — Malaysia is facilitating market access and helping connect Japanese Halal-certified companies with Malaysian Halal ingredient suppliers, while also reinforcing partnerships with JAKIM-recognized certification bodies. These efforts support the goals of the Halal Industry Master Plan 2030 (HIMP 2030), Malaysia’s national blueprint to enhance its global leadership in the Halal industry, with an emphasis on digitalization, innovation, and international outreach.
Culture and dance are important aspects of Malaysian society. How are you presenting these at the Pavilion?
On a daily basis, the Malaysia Pavilion features four live dance performances that celebrate the country’s vibrant cultural heritage. These are curated in partnership with Malaysia’s National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) to ensure that the cultural showcase reflects Malaysia’s rich ethnic and regional diversity.
One notable example was the Malaysia–Saudi Arabia cultural collaboration, where traditional dances from both nations were performed side by side, symbolizing harmony and mutual respect.
We will continue leveraging our performers as a way to build bridges across cultures, using movement and rhythm to spark connection and mutual appreciation. Through these performances, the Pavilion offers entertainment and, more importantly, a living expression of Malaysia’s multicultural identity and its commitment to meaningful cultural exchange on the world stage.
What positive impact does Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship have this year in line with the Expo taking place?
Malaysia’s participation at Expo 2025 Osaka is closely aligned with its policy vision under the MADANI framework, which emphasizes values-based engagement, human-centric development and constructive international cooperation. The Expo provides a strategic platform for Malaysia to advance these priorities while deepening its role as a proactive regional and global player.
As a nation that champions multilateralism, sustainable development, and economic inclusivity, Malaysia is using this opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties, promote regional collaboration, and share its national story of diversity, innovation, and forward-looking development with a global audience.
As a nation that champions multilateralism, sustainable development, and economic inclusivity, Malaysia is using this opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties, promote regional collaboration, and share its national story of diversity, innovation, and forward-looking development with a global audience.
Ellyza Mastura Ahmad Hanipiah, Malaysia Pavilion Director
The Expo also supports Malaysia’s leadership ambitions as Chair of ASEAN in 2025. Through its Pavilion and engagement programmes, Malaysia is highlighting Southeast Asia’s collective aspirations, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, international business partnerships, and industrial reform.
On the bilateral front, the Expo serves to deepen Malaysia’s longstanding partnership with Japan. The Pavilion reflects years of close cooperation between both nations. Through targeted outreach to Japanese investors, cultural institutions, and government stakeholders, Malaysia is reinforcing its position as a trusted economic partner and a gateway to ASEAN markets. In this way, Expo 2025 Osaka is not only a showcase of Malaysia’s national strengths but also an important extension of its foreign policy and regional leadership agenda — consistent with the MADANI vision of an engaged, progressive and collaborative Malaysia on the world stage.
