DIRECT Malaysia Airlines flights from South Australia to Kuala Lumpur have unlocked 75 tonnes of direct air freight capacity.

Taking advantage of the $1 billion export markets for South Australian businesses, is a new trade and investment expert Nadzirah Ali who will be based out of the Austrade office in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia is South Australia’s third largest export partner and is also an influential trade hub in Southeast Asia – one of the fastest growing regions in the world with increasing global economic influence.

Ms Ali will work closely with the South Australian Department of State Development (DSD) to support trade missions, export initiatives and promote South Australia as an investment destination for Malaysian businesses.

Before joining DSD, Ms Ali was the inward investment lead at the United Kingdom’s Department for Business and Trade – based at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur – where she played a key role in promoting commercial opportunities and driving investment into the UK.

Prior to that, she was responsible for developing the UK Department for Business and Trade infrastructure trade strategy for Malaysia to support and increase UK exports and investment into Malaysia.

Ms Ali has exposure through these roles, into tech, agriculture, renewables, life sciences and more.

Malaysia is an important economic partner for South Australia, driven by strong trade, investment and educational ties.

The country is a major importer of South Australian metals, food and wine, while also serving as a significant hub for global supply chains, particularly in manufacturing, electronics and digital industries.

Refined copper is the South Australia’s largest export to Malaysia, valued at $761.1 million. Sheep meat exports, now the state’s second largest export to Malaysia, rose 45 per cent to $58.7 million in 2024.

Ms Ali’s presence bolsters the Department of State Development’s Southeast Asian trade offices. She will support Southeast Asian regional director, Ms Natalya Twohill, based in Singapore, and the State Government’s trade and investment special snvoy to Singapore and Southeast Asia, Mr Martin Haese.

For more information about Malaysia and to connect with the South Australian Government representatives in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, visit export.sa.gov.au/global_offices/south-east-asia