Heartiest congratulations to Inventec on the first Made-in Malaysia Compaq Personal Computer. Product will add on to the long list of Made-in Malaysia products that have found high degree of acceptance in both domestic and international markets.
Our slogan is: “Made in Malaysia for the World”
- To meet the highest quality standards
- Meet the most discerning consumer preferences
- Reliability and dependability
- Can compete with the best in the market
Objective of manufacturers should be:
- To be market leaders and trend setters
- To produce products against which standards are being benchmarked
- To produce products that can have universal acceptance at all time.
Over the years Made in Malaysia products have entered the international markets under various brand names which belong to overseas principals and which were produced under license and contract arrangements. Products - range from garments and accessories to electrical and electronics products.
The experience gathered from such contract manufacturing can provide local manufacturers with a sound basis to produce products with their own brands, which, if marketed aggressively, and with the right approaches and strategies, can find their own market segments and niches both domestically and abroad.
The government has introduced incentives for the promotion of Malaysian-brand products abroad, and companies should avail themselves of those incentives to market their products abroad.
Today, Malaysia has trading links with 232 countries, and there is every opportunity to market Made-in Malaysia products to these countries, and to enhance existing market shares.
In the year 2000, exports of Electrical & Electronics products increased by 18.52% over 1999, to reach RM219.56 billion, accounting for 58.81% of Malaysia ’s global exports for the year. Between January - August 2001, such exports have reached RM125.18 billion or 55.93% of total global exports.
Exports of Computers:
| 1999 |
RM23.32 billion |
| 2000 |
RM29.21 billion (increased 25.26%) |
| Jan-August 2001 |
RM19.12 billion |
Top 5 Export Destinations for computers in 2000
| 1999 |
RM9.56 billion |
| Netherlands |
RM3.93 billion |
| Japan |
RM3.37 billion |
| Singapore |
RM3.17 billion |
| Australia |
RM1.76 billion |
Malaysia continued to import computers, with total imports reaching RM3.79 billion in 1999, and increasing by 41.6% to RM5.37 billion in 2000. Between January - August 2001 imports of computers stood at RM4.15 billion.
It is heartening to note that there is an increasing trend in the use of computers, especially personal computers amongst the population e.g.
1995 = 29 computers per 1000 population
2000 = 95 computers per 1000 population
2001 = 110 computers per 1000 population
Internet subscribers
1995 = 18,000
2000 = 1.2145 million
Jan-September 2001 = 1,647,495
Internet users
1995 = 30,000
2000 = 4 million
Jan-September 2001 = 4.036 million
In respect of the computer industry in Malaysia , the operations of major multinationals in Malaysia has boosted the growth of the industry e.g.
Between 1996 - September 2001:
39 approvals for projects to manufacture computers and computer related products such as computer peripherals, and parts and components.
| Total investments |
RM3.9749 billion |
| (Local investments |
RM142.9 million) |
| (Foreign investments |
RM3.832 billion) |
The development of the Malaysian computer industry has also spawned the growth of the parts and components sub-sector, contributing to high local value - added, and to the development of SMEs, which serve as vendors of the parts and components.
The local sourcing for parts and components by both local manufacturers and the multinational companies, for year 2000, totaled RM3.6 billion, and Malaysian based parts and components manufacturers can grow to become global suppliers, if they strategize to keep abreast with technological developments and in R&D and upgrade their capability and capacity to become world class producers.
In today’s highly competitive market environment, the cost-factor is a vital element in providing the necessary competitive edge. Labour intensive industries aside, there is much room for manufacturers in Malaysia to be cost - competitive, given the conducive operating environment and the other elements that can assist in enhancing productivity and efficiency.
Having said that, it is also equally, if not more important to place emphasis on well strategized promotional and marketing efforts, to ensure market acceptance of the products.
It is a fact that a strong brand name that has gained a foothold in the market can compete with the rest even with a significant price premium. Thus, manufacturers and exporters must work towards influencing the market, rather than leaving their fate entirely to what others in the market dictate.
