What is the World Investment Report (WIR)? The World Investment Report is an annual report published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), since 1991. The UNCTAD WIR 2010 was released on 22 July with the theme “Investing in a Low Carbon Economy”. The Report discusses global and regional tren ds in FDI, recent policy developments and opportunities and threats in developing countries in the transition to a low carbon economy. What are the reasons for the drop in the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in Malaysia in 2009? The decline in FDI inflows into Malaysia to US$1.38 billion in 2009 is mainly due to: the global economic crisis which started in 2008 and continued in 2009, causing global FDI to decline by 37% as investors worldwide were more careful in making investment decisions involving large funds;  Malaysia is in a transition from capital intensive to knowledge-based industry;  Rising competition for FDI, from both new emerging market...

The UNCTAD Global Investment Trends Monitor: Global And Regional FDI Trends in 2010 report records an impressive 409.7 % FDI growth in Malaysia - USD7 billion FDI inflow in 2010, compared with USD1.4 billion in 2009; which is also the  highest among the 153 economies surveyed by UNCTAD. The world FDI inflow in 2010 stood at USD 1.12 trillion. These figures are reflective of the increasing investor confidence in Malaysia and the successful implementation of the economic transformation and reform programmes, contained in the New Economic Model. Investments in the manufacturing sector also increased from RM32.6billion in 2009 to RM47.2 billion in 2010. It must also be noted that the local bourse hit the highest mark on 7 January 2011 at 1,572.21 points.     MITI has also established an Investment Committee, co-chaired by Y.B. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed and  YB Senator Dato’ Seri Idris Jala, CEO ofPEMANDU, to monitor, address and resolve cross-cutting investment-related...

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.

 

• Government Transformation Programme
  • streamline bureaucracy and improve Government’s...