Malaysia attracts foreign investment through friendly approach
Malaysia is expected to receive more investments going forward, supported by investors’ confidence in the Madani Economy framework and from offshoots from existing investments, said Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA).
Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Photo: thesundaily.my)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia isexpected to receive more investments going forward, supported by investors’confidence in the Madani Economy framework and from offshoots from existinginvestments, said Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA).
MSIA President Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai saidthe investment-friendly approach practised by the government will attractforeign companies to enter the Malaysian market.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is working veryhard to attract investments from all over the world, including China, the USand even CEO of Tesla’s Elon Musk.
Besides, there are other investment announcements from European semiconductorfirms. Investors will view these approved investments positively.
Wong Siew Hai said US companies have expanded their footprint in Malaysia suchas Intel Corp and there are new companies coming in. TSo, investors areconfident about Malaysia but the country wants more quality investments.
US Ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters saidUS companies made investment pledges totalling 100 billion RM (21.5 billion USD)in various sectors over the last 18 months.
He said these involve significant investmentsin areas where the US wants to strengthen its presence, namely electronics andsemiconductor sectors, as well as the data centre segment which is a big growtharea.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk SeriZafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had previously said that Malaysia would prioritiseimproving the ease of doing business in the country to lure qualityinvestments.
According to him, the government will continue to streamline processes andmonitor and track these investment processes closely and in real time through aproject management and delivery unit within the ministry.
Meanwhile, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chiefeconomist and social finance head Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid opined thatMalaysia has always portrayed itself as non-partisan and has been accommodativeto bilateral ties.
According to him, threats of deglobalisation are seen to be taking root which can becounterproductive if allowed. Therefore, forging economic alliances withvarious (countries) should signify Malaysia’s commitment to remain open toforeign direct investments (FDIs).
꧒ More importantly, Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, saidinvestments by foreign companies could be a catalyst for infrastructuredevelopment as well as transfers of technology./.
The 8th Malaysia Business Events Week (MBEW) 2023 kicked off at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on August 21, drawing about 400 Malaysian and foreign practitioners in the business events industry.
Malaysia’s Madani Economy policy plan requires determination and implementation to free the country from the middle-income trap and head towards a high-income country, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
Digital economy is considered as one of Malaysia’s most important economic foundations, which will contribute 25.5% to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country by 2025 or more than 382 billion RM (82 billion USD) compared with 23.2% or 348 billion RM in 2021, according to the Horizon - Digital Economy Publication report published recently by Malaysia Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC).
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Photo: thesundaily.my) 
