Among all the distinguished guests who have joined us here today, can I acknowledge Minister for Higher Education Zambry.
Monash University Vice Chancellor, Professor Pickering.
Monash University Malaysia President, Professor Adeeba.
And Lendlease CEO and Australia's Business Champion for Malaysia Tony Lombardo.
It is a great pleasure to be with you for the launch of Monash's innovative new campus right here in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
This bold development represents an exciting step forward for Monash University Malaysia, and a further strengthening of the bonds between our two nations.
Australians and Malaysians learning more about each other, by learning alongside each other.
Increasing Australia's presence and investment in education in the region is a priority recommendation set out in Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
And I would like to acknowledge Nicholas Moore, Australia's Special Envoy to Southeast Asia and the author of our Strategy.
In many respects, our partnership with Malaysia is the template.
Malaysia is one of Australia's largest transnational education partners, hosting campuses of four Australian universities.
Monash University Malaysia was the first in 1998.
Not just the first Australian university to open here, the first international university, full stop.
It is has grown to become Monash's largest and most successful campus outside Australia.
Monash enrolments here reached a record high in 2024 with over 11,000 students from 85 countries.
Of these, 64 per cent were Malaysian students.
By the end of May this year, just over 30,000 students had graduated - more than two thirds of them locals.
Each of those numbers represents someone better equipped to reach their potential, live their aspirations and seize the opportunities of the future.
A future that is more clearly visible from here.
Since 2019, Monash University Malaysia and ASEAN research collaboration has been steadily increasing across critical areas, including digital technology, AI and cyber security, climate change and green finance, as well as healthcare.
It is a reminder that even in a story nearly three decades in the making, there are many more exciting chapters to write.
Because everything that has been achieved to date provides us with the inspiration - and the confidence - to aim higher and build bigger.
That is the spirit we are seeing here as Monash partners with The Exchange TRX to deliver a $1 billion new campus.
Monash's partnership with TRX is a great example of what has been achieved by the commercial advocacy of the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and the new Deal Teams - Deal Teams I announced when I launched our Invested Strategy two years ago in Jakarta.
I would also like to acknowledge Lendlease as a co-developer of The Exchange TRX, a major mixed-use development within the TRX precinct.
All of it adds up to a vote of confidence in the future.
A future that Australian and Malaysian Monash graduates will shape together.
