Untitled Document

YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade and Industry will be leading a Trade and Investment Mission to Seoul, The Republic of Korea (ROK) from 29 to 30 September 2014 and Tokyo, Japan from 1 to 2 October 2014.

The Minister will be accompanied by a business delegation comprising 8 local companies and representatives from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Malaysia Innovation Agency (AIM).

The objectives of the Mission include:

  • to update the business communities in ROK and Japan on Malaysia’s economic development and business opportunities;

  • to explore export opportunities in ROK and Japan, especially in the services segment, food products, chemicals and chemical products and biomass;

  • to enhance Foreign Direct Investment from ROK and Japan in sectors such as Electrical and Electronics, Green Technology, Automotive and Information Technology and Communications; and

  • to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.

Programmes scheduled during the Trade and Investment Mission to ROK and Japan include:

  • Business Seminars on Trade and Investment Opportunities in Malaysia;

  • Networking and business matching events;

  • Individual Meetings with Japanese and Korean companies; and

  • Meetings with Malaysian professionals and students.


Ministry of International Trade and Industry
25 September 2014

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

BILATERAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT

 

i. Malaysia-ROK

 

In 2013:

  • Trade with ROK increased 13.7% to US$18.04 billion (RM56.91 billion) from US$16.20 billion (RM50.07 billion) in 2012. Exports and imports increased by 3.0% to US$8.29 billion and 24.7% to US$9.76 billion, respectively.
  • Major exports to ROK:

    • Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) (US$2.73 billion, or 32.9% of Malaysia’s total exports to ROK);

    • E&E products (US$1.40 billion, or 16.8%);

    • Refined petroleum products (US$0.61 billion, or 7.4%);

    • Chemicals and chemical products (US$0.59 billion, or 7.1%); and

    • Manufactures of metal (US$0.49 billion, or 5.9%).

  • Major imports from ROK:

    • E&E products (US$2.74 billion, or 28.1% of Malaysia’s imports from ROK);

    • Refined petroleum products (US$1.71 billion, or 17.6%);

    • Iron & steel products (US$1.09 billion, or 11.2%);

    • Chemicals & chemical products (US$1.05 billion, or 10.7%); and

    • Machinery, appliances and parts (US$0.95 billion, or 9.7%).

 

In 2013, ROK was Malaysia’s 7th largest trading partner, 9th largest export destination and 7th largest source of imports. For ROK, Malaysia was its 16th biggest trading partner, 16th export destination and 13th source of imports in 2013

From January-July 2014, total trade between Malaysia and ROK increased by 11.4% to RM35.00 billion (US$10.76 billion) compared with RM31.41 billion (US$10.15 billion) in the corresponding period in 2013. Exports and imports increased by 11.6% to RM15.57 billion (US$4.78 billion) and 11.3% to RM19.43 billion (US$5.98 billion), respectively.

In 2013, ROK was the second largest foreign investor with approved investments amounting to US$1.67 billion in 13 projects which were expected to create 2,040 employment opportunities.  There were 8 implemented investments/projects in the manufacturing sector with ROK participation worth US$77.9 million which have created 837 job opportunities. As at 2013, total FDI in the services sector from ROK investors was recorded at RM711.1 million.

From 2009-2013, a total of 43 manufacturing projects with participation from ROK were implemented with total investments of US$2.06 billion. These projects created 7,136 jobs.

 

ii. Malaysia-Japan

 

In 2013:

  • Malaysia’s trade with Japan registered a decrease of 6.6% amounting to RM136.11 billion (US$43.20 billion) compared with US$47.20 billion in 2012. Exports decreased by 4.4% to US$25.31 billion while imports decreased by 9.6% to US$17.89 billion.

  • Malaysia’s major exports to Japan were:

    • Liquefied natural gas (LNG) (US$12.77 billion or 50.4% of Malaysia’s exports to Japan);

    • Electrical and electronic products (US$5.02 billion, 19.8%);

    • Wood products (US$1.15 billion, 4.5%);

    • Chemicals and chemical products (US$0.83 billion, 3.3%) and

    • Crude Petroleum (US$0.78 billion, 3.1%)

  • Major imports from Japan were:

    • E&E products (US$4.89 billion or 27.3% of Malaysia’s imports from Japan);

    • Machinery, appliances and parts (US$2.38 billion, 13.3%);

    • Transport equipment (US$2.37 billion, 13.3%);

    • Iron & steel products (US$1.92 billion, 10.7%); and

    • Manufactures of metal (US$1.76 billion, 9.8%).

 

In 2013, Japan was Malaysia’s 3rd largest global trading partner, 3rd largest export destination and 3rd largest source of imports. Malaysia was Japan’s 10th largest global trading partner, 11th largest export destination and 8th largest source of imports.

From January-July 2014, total trade between Malaysia and Japan increased by 2.0% (in Ringgit terms) to RM80.25 billion (US$24.64 billion) compared to RM78.68 billion (US$25.43 billion) in the corresponding period in 2013. Exports increased by 4.0% to RM48.12 billion (US$14.77 billion) while imports declined 0.8% to RM32.13 billion (US$9.87 billion).

Japan continues to be Malaysia’s top source of foreign direct investments since 1980.  As at 31 December 2013, a total of 2,510 manufacturing projects were implemented with total investments of US$22.70 billion and the creation of 332,352 jobs. As at 2013, total FDI in the services sector from Japanese investors was recorded at RM22.3 billion.

In 2013, a total of 32 manufacturing projects were implemented amounting to US$272.4 million which have created 4,630 job opportunities.