Tag Archives: Investments
MITI Minister, YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, in an
article in the
New Straits Times today, states that Malaysia has gained investor confidence. This article is a follow-up to our recent posting on the
UNCTAD Global Investment Trends Monitor 2010 report.
“We have taken a big stride to regain our growth momentum by closing the gap between the pre-financial crisis investment and trade levels. Malaysia’s strong rebound reflects rising investor confidence in an economy backed by healthy fundamentals” said the Minister.
This achievement is also attributed to several factors and initiatives undertaken by the Government like the:
- establishment of the Special Taskforce to Facilitate Business (PEMUDAH)
- instrumental in cutting red tapes across the public sector and implementing a host of initiatives to improve the business environment in the country.
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Are you a Malaysian seeking investment opportunities in APEC economies? You may be interested in the 7th edition (the latest) of the Guide to Investment Regimes which provides information relating to the investment environment in APEC member countries and help you make wise investment decisions.
Among the countries covered in this edition are:
- China;
- Hong Kong;
- Indonesia;
- Japan;
- Singapore;
- United States of America; and
Malaysia.Among information available in this edition are:
- · Introduction to Investment Regimes;
- · Investment Priority Plan/Equivalent Policy;
- · Regulation and Conditions of Foreign Investment;
- · Investment Promotion and Facilitation;
- · Investment and Intellectual Property Rights Protection;
- · Movement of Persons; and
Taxation on Investment.This article is adapted from the MWB Vol.128.
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Malaysia continues to attract investments in the manufacturing sector in 2011. Investments approved for the period of January-March 2011 totaled RM12.1 billion in 187 projects. Of these, 115 are new, with the remaining 72 related to expansion or diversification of operations of companies that already exist in Malaysia. These approved projects are expected to generate 25,117 employment opportunities, of which 14,294 or 56.9% will be in the managerial, technical, supervisory and skilled categories.
It is pertinent to note that Malaysia remains an attractive destination for foreign investments in the manufacturing sector. During the period from January to March 2011, approved foreign investments in the manufacturing sector totaled RM4.6 billion in 94 projects. The leading sources of foreign investments in approved projects are the USA (RM967.8 million), Singapore (RM853.4 million), Republic of Korea (RM719.5 million), Japan (RM258.7 million) and Hong Kong (RM180.0 million). These...
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Big Sky, MT – Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) ministers met today on the margins of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting to take stock of progress made so far and to consider the path forward as they seek to conclude a high-standard, regional trade agreement. Joining the meeting were Australian Minister for Trade Craig Emerson, Bruneian Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Lim Jock Seng, Chilean Vice Minister of Trade Jorge Bunster, Malaysian Secretary General for International Trade and Industry Rebecca Fatima Sta. Maria, New Zealand Minister of Trade Tim Groser, Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Eduardo Ferreyros Kuppers, Singaporean Permanent Secretary for Trade and Industry Ow Foong Pheng, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, and Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc.
The ministers discussed the progress so far after six rounds of negotiations and were pleased with the steady and solid progress to date in this...
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The Institute for Management Development (IMD), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, issued its World Competitiveness Yearbook 2011 Report (WCY2011) yesterday, reporting that Malaysia’s ranking among 59 economies has declined from 10thposition in 2010 to 16th position this year.
The Malaysian Government has embarked on a number of initiatives to enhance competitiveness. The Government Transformation Programme (GTP) has addressed fundamental nationwide changes through 6 national key result areas (NKRAs) (Reducing Crime, Fighting Corruption, Improving Student Outcomes, Raising Living Standards of Low-Income Households, Improving Rural basic Infrastructure, Improving Urban Public Transport). Subsequent to that in October 2010, the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) has prioritized 11 sectors of National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs) and the Greater KL Project. The ETP has identified a total of 131 Entry Point Projects (EPP) with a total investment value of RM794.5 billion as part of...
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The Trade and Investment Mission to San Jose, USA was held on 22 and 23 May 2011 in conjunction with the official visit by YAB Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak to the United States of America from 17-21 May 2011. San Jose, known as the Silicon Valley of the USA saw Malaysia’s successful two-day programme led by MIDA in cooperation with Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC).
At the Roundtable Meeting, Malaysia’s investment opportunities in the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and specific interests in projects under the Entry Point Projects (EPPs) were promoted. The meeting was also used as a platform for Malaysia to update the status on renewable energy policy, broadband developments, IPR regime and prospects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other Malaysian FTAs as an advantage to enter third markets. Feedback on the key concerns of the potential US investors were also gathered with one common issue identified on qualified human capital.
During the Innovative...
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The Investment Committee (IC) established in October 2010 is a joint initiative of MITI and PEMANDU to ensure better coordination in the area of investments between all Government and investment agencies involved in investment promotion. The IC also looks into the objectives and targets of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) to ensure that this initiative is fully realised.
The IC is co-chaired by Y.B. Minister of MITI and CEO of PEMANDU. Members of the Committee are representatives from the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Performance and Management Delivery Unit (PEMANDU), Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) and Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing and Regional Corridors Authority are co-opted when necessary.
The IC’s main focus is to promote and facilitate overall investment in achieving the...
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The Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA) will come into effect on 1 July 2011. The free trade agreement addresses issues related to the liberalisation of trade in goods, trade in services, investments and economic cooperation. It is Malaysia’s fourth bilateral FTA after Japan, Pakistan and New Zealand.The benefits provided by MICECA are in addition to those already made available under the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIG) which was implemented on 1 January 2010.
Under MICECA, Malaysia and India will progressively reduce or eliminate tariffs on an agreed list of industrial and agricultural products between 1 July 2011 and 31 December 2019. Malaysian exporters will enjoy free duty market access for rubber products, chemical products and electrical equipment from 1 July 2011. Imports from India into Malaysia will enjoy zero or lower duties for live animals and meat, textile materials and manufactures of metal beginning 1 July 2011.
For...
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Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) made a five-day working visit to Brussels and London from 11-15 July 2011 in conjunction with the official visit of Prime Minister to the United Kingdom from 12-15 July 2011.
The visit was successful in further strengthening and enhancing economic, trade and investment relations with Belgium and the United Kingdom. The Minister held bilateral talks with Mr. Karel De Gucht, EU Trade Commissioner on 11 July 2011 in Brussels. Among the topics discussed were Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement negotiations, halal issues and WTO Doha Development Agenda negotiations. He also held business meetings with the Belgian companies, who have shown their interest to invest and expand their operations in Malaysia where the Minister assured that MIDA will provide assistance to them.
In London, the Minister attended a Roundtable Session with captains of the industries. Issues highlighted include...
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The US-ASEAN Business Council conducted its annual Senior Executives Business Mission to Malaysia from 19-21 July 2011 aimed at promoting stronger business-to-business linkages between Malaysian and US multinational companies (MNCs). The delegation comprised of 43 senior business executives representing 20 US MNCs and to date, it is the largest delegation to Malaysia. This visit demonstrated that there is a growing interest by US MNCs to invest in Malaysia.
On 20 July 2011, the delegation met Dato’ Jacob Dungau Sagan, Deputy Minister (Industry) and several views on bilateral trade and economic issues were exchanged. Issues related to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) were also discussed.
The Deputy Minister also took the opportunity to brief the delegation on Malaysia’s reform agenda, in particular the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). The US delegation applauded Malaysia’s approach to engage more private sectors in...
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