Kuala Lumpur, 30 November 2020 – The volatile global economy, afflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, has impelled most countries to implement assertive strategies to remain sturdy in economic well-being. Malaysia, as an open trading nation is not spared from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, more so on industrial productivity, supply chains and growth plans of many businesses. Bank Negara Malaysia predicts the 2020 GDP to be in the range of -3.5% and -5.5%. However, with the anticipated improvement in global growth and trade, given the gradual normalisation in economic activities, Malaysia projects a rebound of over 6% in 2021 with resilient fundamentals and well-diversified economy.

As the country steers to weather the on-going pandemic while capturing technical bounces in the economic recovery, the Government has undertaken several proactive measures to enable high potential investors and business travellers, whose numbers are relatively not large, and existing investors to enter the country to secure investments and build investor confidence. Hence, to attract more investments into Malaysia and sustain its position as the preferred investment destination in the region, the Government has established a One Stop Centre (OSC) for Business Travellers on 2 October 2020 to ease the movement of business travellers by expediting the approval of their entry to do business in Malaysia.

MIDA manages the OSC for Business Travellers with support from the Immigration Department of Malaysia (IMI), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and other relevant ministries and agencies to ensure the legitimacy and health status of business travellers before they enter into Malaysia. This Centre assumes a critical role in ensuring that Malaysia remains steady on the path of economic recovery and growth, by enabling business travellers’ movement to do their business/work in Malaysia.

The OSC Committee evaluates and approves two (2) types of business travellers, namely Long Term Business Travellers where their stay in the country is more than 14 days and Short Term Business Travellers for a stay of 14 days or less. The meeting is held daily on five (5) working days every week, while a decision for each applicant is made within three (3) working days upon receiving complete information.

As at 27 November 2020, the OSC Committee has received a total of 2,564 applications and 2,448 applications were recommended for approval. These Business Travellers include businessmen and technical experts providing technical advisory services and installation commissioning of the machinery and equipment.

MIDA is working closely with the Immigration Department of Malaysia and Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad to enhance the MyEntry System to further facilitate the Entry Permission applications of Business Travellers. This includes the establishment of a Business Traveller Centre (BTC) at KLIA which will provide the services of Duty Officers/ Liaison Officers and a COVID-19 testing laboratory; and a dedicated website containing information and advisory services to facilitate the entry of business travellers into Malaysia. An announcement will be issued soon upon the completion of Business Travellers Centre.

Currently, MIDA is in consultation with Business Travellers from 136 potential multinational companies that will require the assistance of the OSC in the near future.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube channel.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Aizah Abdullah 

Director, Industry Talent Management and Expatriate Division 

Tel: 03-2267 3529 | E-mail: [email protected]

One Stop Centre for Business Travellers “Welcoming Investors, Keeping You Safe”

Kuala Lumpur, 25 November 2020 – GD Express Carrier Bhd (GDEX), through its wholly-owned subsidiary GD Express Sdn. Bhd. (GDSB), announced the expansion of its warehouses, distribution centres and transportation fleet to cater to the tremendous increase in order volumes following to the booming of Malaysia’s e-commerce market. The project is scheduled to commence on 1 November 2020 and is expected to create more than 1,000 employment opportunities for Malaysians.

Further expanding the existing capacity, GDEX Group also intends to diversify its information technology (IT) infrastructure systems to efficiently support its operation in the regions for the next five (5) years. This novel system will include the future use of DeKAT (Social Commerce Supply Chain) to extend the logistics services and create a seamless supply chain facility to the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), social entrepreneurs and fulfilment houses; KITA (Last Mile Delivery Platform) an efficient hybrid model to provide 5,000 sustainable gig economy opportunities; and R’MADA (Fleet Operation as well as Maintenance Platform and System) to increase productivity and efficiency of fleet management.

Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), said “E-commerce has been the fastest growing sector in the global trade landscape and assumed to be an integral component in enabling the growth of supply chain industry. While Malaysia continues to create a pro-business environment, GDEX expansion and diversification will complement the logistical infrastructure in providing seamless and reliable services to e-commerce and e-fulfilment activities.”

Since its inception in March 1996, GDEX Group through GDSB has been developing feasible IT solutions to support e-commerce activities such as myGDEX. It is an online shipping platform to enhance customer’s delivery experience; cloud-based call centre and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) support to allow companies deploying call centre at any strategic area within Malaysia. It also includes the GDEX mobile apps for courier which will enable couriers to update the status of pick-up and delivery on a real-time basis; e-wallet payment acceptance and GDEX e-commerce integration which provides seamless integration with online stores such as WOO Commerce, Magento, opencart, NET SHOP, payex and unicart.

GDSB has been granted with tax incentive by MIDA to carry out Integrated Logistics Services (ILS) activities as an expansion project and e-commerce/e-fulfillment diversity project. The Government through MIDA provides incentive to encourage logistics companies to undertake logistics operation in an integrated manner, to adopt technology in their operations and to position themselves as regional e-Fulfilment hub providers in Malaysia. For the period of January to September 2020, MIDA has approved a total of seven (7) ILS projects worth RM708.9 million, including two related to the e-commerce/e-fulfillment projects.

“The ILS incentive came in timely as a catalyst for the Group to embark on the programmes in improving, expanding and innovate its operations and products offerings. It enables us to strengthen our logistical support facilities and capabilities,” said Tan Sri Muhammad bin Ibrahim, Chairman of GDEX. “This incentive will motivate us to continue with our vision to become an ASEAN courier and e-logistic company. The ILS incentive would also contribute positively to our effort to tighten up our operations and improve service quality. MIDA’s support and facilitation to the business community will go a long way in promoting a strong, resilient and reliable courier and logistics industry for the country.”

MIDA will continue to facilitate companies in their project implementations which subsequently help to chart the growth and development of the e-commerce sector; in result, positioning Malaysia as the Regional e-Fulfillment Hub.

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For more information, please contact:

About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube channel.

About GDEX

Established in 1996, GDEX provides integrated logistics services for both domestic and international B2B, B2C and C2C markets in Malaysia. Supported by more than 600 network points, 1,300 vehicles and 4,400 employees, the company provides, among others, next day express courier service, customised delivery solution, international shipping, digitized shipping platform and warehouse fulfillment to a diversified customer base. After many years of continuous growth in Malaysia, GDEX diversified into South East Asia (SEA) region with first investment in Singapore in 2005, Indonesia in 2016 and Vietnam in 2019. The Group now employs almost 9,000 workforces across the region to build up its regional network. The strong partnership with Yamato Holdings Co, Ltd (GDEX’s 2nd largest shareholder) will enable both parties to capitalise on each other’s strengths to tap into the most lucrative ASEAN markets.

To accelerate growth on the regional front, the Group embarks on aggressive digitalization initiatives to make itself a digital company. Currently, GDEX Malaysia employs approximately 50 IT personnel and 100 IT engineers in its associate company Web Bytes Sdn Bhd which provides cloud-based point of sale system and solution. 

GDEX Expansion and Diversification Accelerates Malaysia’s E-Commerce Logistics Growth

Malaysia-China Business Forum: “New Normal, New Opportunities”

Kuala Lumpur, 20 November 2020 — The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) successfully organised the ‘Malaysia-China Business Forum: New Normal, New Opportunities’ on 18 November 2020, in collaboration with the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and China Construction Bank (CCB). The guests of honour for the event included YB Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister of MITI; Hon. Mr. Li Chenggang, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Commerce, China; H.E. Raja Dato’ Nurshirwan Zainal Abidin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of China; YBhg. Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MIDA and Mr. Felix Feng, CEO of China Construction Bank, Malaysia.

The event was conducted in a hybrid format by combining online broadcast and on-site panel discussion in the three first-tier cities in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It was successfully attended by 75 China companies on-site in China and received more than 2,600 online participation and viewers from the China and Malaysia business communities.

The event was a timely platform to update China stakeholders on Malaysia’s business environment and opportunities. Representatives from existing Chinese companies in Malaysia also shared their success stories and experiences in leveraging Malaysia as their global operations hub.

YB Datuk Lim Ban Hong, in his keynote address, commented on the need for mutually beneficial and sustainable growth partnerships. It is not only between China and Malaysia but also beyond to enable dynamic economic development, “The signing of the historic Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement is significant toward realising a free and open international economic order. It reflects our strong commitment to international trade, connectivity, rule-based multilateral trading systems and enhancing the free flow of trade and investments. Malaysia is also optimistic that RCEP can be used as one of the economic recovery tools against COVID-19. The implementation of this agreement will help to ensure the opening of markets as well as an uninterrupted supply chain, including the establishment of greater trade integration and diversifying of production networks with China.”

Malaysia continues to be a competitive location for manufacturing projects with participation from China. In the first nine months of 2020, a total of 740 manufacturing projects with investments valued at RM65.3 billion were approved. Of these, China recorded a total of RM16.8 billion (25.7%) in 58 projects.

Speaking on the investment opportunities in Malaysia, YBhg. Dato’ Azman Mahmud remarked, “The Government is strengthening Malaysia’s investment environment by introducing multiple economic stimulus plans and incentive measures to withstand the challenges brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic. We welcome Chinese companies to invest in Malaysia and expand our bilateral trade and investment, particularly high technology, knowledge and capital intensive, high value-added companies from China with a speciality in automated machines and robotics; aerospace and aeronautical; biopharma and medical devices; advanced information technology; new materials; and new energy vehicles and equipment. It will undoubtedly be instrumental in pushing our economic reformation despite the pandemic.”

China has remained among Malaysia’s largest trading partner for 11 continuous years, also representing the country’s top foreign direct investment source for four (4) consecutive years. Going forward, Malaysia, as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, looks to strengthen regional connectivity with China to complement each other’s advantages and expand bilateral trade and investment. China-Malaysia trade relation will have a further step in the post-COVID era.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube channel.

For more information, please contact: 

Mr. Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid 

Director, Foreign Investment Promotion Division, MIDA 

Email: shamsul @mida.gov.my 

Tel: +603 – 2267 6633

Malaysia Welcomes China Investments from High Technology, Knowledge and Capital Intensive Ventures

Kuala Lumpur, 19 November 2020 – BiON Group of Companies (BiON)has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SIRIM Tech Venture Sdn. Bhd. (STV) today as witnessed by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in strengthening and promoting the growth of bio-energy ecosystem. The MOU aims to develop potentials in commercialisation of “Waste to Energy” (WTE) activities in ensuring sustainable waste management in the country. The MOU is a testament to MIDA’s efforts in promoting investment activities which are supportive to the sustainable development goals in Malaysia.

MIDA through its Domestic Investment Coordination Platform (DICP) unit has coordinated with BiON and STV in business to business (B2B) meetings to realise the establishment of a technical cooperation between the two companies. This collaboration includes the distribution of gas energy through a Virtual Pipeline System (VPS) and the establishment of a bio-energy hub to monetise agricultural and industrial waste. Pilot tests will also be conducted on the production of Bio Natural Gas (BioNG) from existing biogas power plants and on other projects related to WTE in Malaysia and abroad.

The DICP unit in MIDA assists companies in bridging their technology and/or financial gaps, offers direct facilitation and engagement with technology providers and/or financial institutions, including private equity and venture capital firms.

“The collaboration brings together key local and international players from the bio-energy value chain to explore the opportunities and challenges as well as to chart the way forward for this industry. MIDA continues to provide the impetus for domestic and foreign direct investors in expanding their business portfolios and accelerate investments despites the challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dato’ Azman Mahmud, CEO of MIDA.

BiON has positioned itself as one of Malaysia’s most established waste-to-energy solutions providers and independent power producer (IPP) through the construction, operation and ownership of four biogas power plants which provide electricity to the Malaysian National Grid under the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) system. While it is the only company with biogas power plants operating two different systems in generating power through the treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME), BiON is also one of the only few fully-integrated service providers and operators in the country. Over the last 40 years, the principal operating company of the Group, BiON Sdn. Bhd. (BSB) has delivered numerous projects throughout Asia, including a World Bank funded project and a series of biogas capture facilities for FGV Palm Industries Sdn Bhd (FPI), a subsidiary of FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV) which is the world’s largest crude palm oil producer.

In supporting the biogas industry in Malaysia, SIRIM Tech Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (STV), a wholly owned commercialisation arm of SIRIM Berhad assumes a significant role in accelerating business commercialisation. SIRIM has developed innovative solutions for the production of biogas in upgrading its quality to become natural gas-like fuel or Bio-Natural Gas (BioNG) in complementing the bio-energy ecosystem.

STV has recently launched an integrated commercialisation platform known as TECH Ecosystem to encapsulate an effective ecosystem given the Technology Readiness Level (TRL), a methodology to determine technology maturity during the product development cycle. STV also offers potential investors to access technologies evaluation in its virtual database known as ‘Technology Docket” which is readily available for commercialization. Realising the importance of digitalisation in materialising a healthy ecosystem, STV will soon be releasing a new iVenture Apps for best customer experience.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, LinkedIn and Youtube channel.

For more information, please contact:

Nazuki Abdullah

Director, Domestic Investment & Supply Chain Coordination Division, MIDA

Tel.: 03- 2267 3744| Email: [email protected]

MIDA Bridging Collaboration on Waste-To-Energy Investment Ecosystem between BiON and SIRIM Tech Ventures Sdn Bhd (STV)

Kuala Lumpur, 9 November 2020 – Malaysia continues to be a competitive location for manufacturing projects. In the first nine months of 2020, a total of 740 projects worth RM65.3 billion were approved compared with RM56.0 billion in 669 projects in the corresponding period of 2019, representing an increase of 16.6 per cent in capital investments.

These newly approved investments are expected to create 51,172 jobs for the country. The jobs created include 1,040 electrical and electronic engineers, 963 mechanical engineers and 331 chemical engineers. In addition, the approved manufacturing projects will also require about 5,499 skilled craftsmen such as plant maintenance supervisors, tools and die makers, machinists, IT personnel, quality controllers, electricians and welders.

The total investments approved in the manufacturing sector were mainly in the petroleum products including petrochemicals (RM15.0 billion), basic metal products (RM14.5 billion), electrical and electronics (RM7.7 billion), machinery and equipment (RM5.8 billion), chemicals and chemical products (RM4.5 billion), food manufacturing (RM3.0 billion), transport equipment (RM3.0 billion) as well as scientific and measuring equipment (RM2.1 billion). These industries make up 85 per cent of total approved investments for the sector.

Compared to the corresponding period last year, domestic direct investment (DDI) in the manufacturing sector saw a leap of 45.5 per cent to RM25.9 billion during this period while the value of approved foreign direct investments (FDI) increased by 3.2 per cent to RM39.4 billion.

The states that recorded the highest total approved investments in the manufacturing sector for the period are Sarawak, Sabah, Pulau Pinang, Selangor and Johor. These states have collectively contributed RM51.3 billion.

Meanwhile, the leading sources of FDI for the period of January to September 2020 were China, Singapore, Switzerland, the USA, Netherlands, Thailand, Japan and Republic of Korea. These eight countries jointly accounted for 91.4 per cent or RM36.0 billion of the total FDI approved in the manufacturing sector.

A recent joint study by KPMG and The Manufacturing Institute in the USA entitled “Cost of Manufacturing Operations around the Globe” ranked Malaysia fourth among seventeen economies in an assessment comparing the economy’s competitiveness as a manufacturing hub. Evaluating a total of 23 cost factors that impact the cost of doing business (CoDB), the study validates Malaysia’s aspirations to become a global supply chain hub in the region.

In efforts to increase the ease of doing business for investors in Malaysia, the Government, through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) has been intensifying its efforts to re-engineer its business processes to raise the efficiency of the organisation’s various functions. Among the initiatives that have been implemented include the PACU@MIDA or the Project Acceleration and Coordination Unit to provide end-to-end facilitation for all projects approved to enable the timely implementation of investments in the country; as well as online modules namely e-Manufacturing Licence (e-ML), e-Incentive and JPC Online Application to accelerate the necessary approvals for manufacturing licences, incentives and exemption of customs duties to expedite the execution of projects.

Despite the on-going international border closures and strict governmental standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place worldwide to contain the spread of COVID-19, MIDA continues to be responsive in providing advice and support to existing and potential investors, through its established footprint of 20 overseas and 12 regional offices. It has been at the forefront to entice investments through innovative and aggressive investment promotion activities. Most recently, a One-Stop-Centre (OSC) has been established at MIDA to evaluate applications of eligible business travellers to enter Malaysia for trade and investment purposes.

As the principal investment promotion and development agency of the country, MIDA prioritises the push for strategic collaborations between foreign and local companies to propel mutually beneficial outcomes such as the transfer of knowledge and expertise across industries as well as the development of resilient supply chains and support network. These are stepping stones to nurture Malaysian companies to become truly global champions.

Notable projects approved in the manufacturing sector for the first nine months of 2020 include LEM (Switzerland), Dexcom and Ultra Clean (USA) as well as Nippon Electric Glass (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (NEGM). NEGM is to increase its production capacity of glass tubing for pharmaceutical use by approximately 1,000 tons per month at its Shah Alam, Selangor facility. To date, NEG has invested more than RM6 billion in Malaysia on various products. Its latest RM200 million investment project reinforces Malaysia’s reputation as a sustainable and profitable investment destination for companies looking to do business in ASEAN and beyond.

MIDA has also been focused on attracting quality investments in capital-intensive, high-value added and high technology projects. This is reflected in the increase of the capital investment per employee (CIPE) ratio to RM1,276,774 in the first nine months of 2020 from RM1,039,769 during the same period last year.

Malaysia is committed to working hand in hand with investors, both local and foreign alike, to accelerate the transformation of Malaysia as an advanced nation with inclusive growth and development despite the economic climate. Through deliberate and targeted approaches, the Government will ensure that the Malaysian economy remains steady on a recover trajectory amidst this pandemic by providing a conducive and favourable environment to attract businesses.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube channel. 

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Manjit Kaur 

Director, Corporate Communications Division, MIDA 

Email: [email protected] | DL: +603 2267 3509

Malaysia Continues to be a Vibrant Manufacturing Hub, Recording RM65.3 Billion of Approved Investments in the Manufacturing Sector for Jan – Sept 2020

Kuala Lumpur, 5 November 2020 – The Eppendorf Group, a leading German life science company, marked its 20 years footprint in Malaysia this year, moving into its new facility in Symphony Square, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Home to the Asia Pacific Headquarters of Eppendorf, Malaysia was selected as the first Asian country in 2008 to serve the Group’s operation in this part of the region. This shift speaks volumes of the confidence Eppendorf has in Malaysia.

“We are excited that Malaysia continues to be our base to serve Eppendorf’s clients in Southeast Asia and beyond. Therefore, and in order to continue further growing, we are very happy that we were able to move into the new facility at the Symphony Square,” said Eva van Pelt, Co-CEO of Eppendorf AG. “This newly integrated centre will be home to our shared services hub, covering functions such as IT, HR as well as Finance and Controlling, for the Group’s operations in the Asia Pacific (excluding China), Middle East and Africa. It is also home to the Southeast Asian sales and marketing operations of Eppendorf, and will enable us to support our customers in the region even better in the future.”

Further expanding the existing capacity, Eppendorf’s new office features a fully equipped demonstration area for Eppendorf products, a comprehensive on-site service and repair department as well as application laboratories and training areas. This centre is set up not only to host a broad group of the Eppendorf staff across the globe for annual training sessions on products and laboratory techniques, but it will also be open for customers to see and try out products in real laboratory settings, enhancing their overall customer experience.

Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) congratulated Eppendorf on their significant milestone in Malaysia, “The evolution of the Eppendorf’s activities in Malaysia is in line with our aspirations to transition into a knowledge-based economy. We are proud that this new hub will employ more than 50 life scientists, engineers and other specialists providing technical and scientific application support, business intelligence, sales and marketing support and shared services. MIDA is constantly looking for opportunities to collaborate with commendable companies such as Eppendorf that bring frontier products and technology to our country. With this new venture, we look forward to Eppendorf taking this strategic partnership with Malaysia to the next level, further leveraging on the existing investment ecosystem and facilities to grow your business in the region.”

Currently, Eppendorf products are in particularly high demand in COVID-19 testing laboratories and test kit manufacturing facilities. Research facilities working on vaccines also utilise a wide range of Eppendorf products such as pipettes, centrifuges, automated liquid handling, CO2 incubators, consumables, freezers, shakers and dispensers.

For the period of January to June 2020, MIDA has approved 17 medical devices manufacturing projects worth RM2.0 billion (USD 0.5 billion). As of 2019, a total of 402 medical devices projects with investments worth RM20.5 billion (USD 5.6 billion) have been implemented in Malaysia, creating more than 76,500 jobs for the country.

Dato’ Azman highlighted that Malaysia continues to be the choice investment location, despite the current global uncertainty, “As a diversified economy with world-class infrastructure, Malaysia provides tremendous business opportunities, especially for global companies seeking to access the wider market in the Asia Pacific region. Investors, such as Eppendorf, are increasingly taking note of our competitive advantages given the unprecedented supply chain re-calibrations due to the current pandemic. MIDA looks to be at the forefront to entice more quality investments in the areas of technology and innovation to position Malaysia as an alternative supply chain hub in Asia.”

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For more information, please contact:

Ms. Rosedalina Ramlan 

Director, Business Services and Regional Operations (BRO) Division, MIDA

Email: [email protected] DL: +603 2267 3515

Ms. Shim Yok Lam 

Zone Director, Eppendorf Southeast Asia 

Email: [email protected] DL: +603 7610 5200

About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube channel.

About Eppendorf

Eppendorf is a leading life science company that develops and sells instruments, consumables, and services for liquid, sample, and cell handling in laboratories worldwide. Its product range includes pipettes and automated pipetting systems, dispensers, centrifuges, mixers, spectrometers, and DNA amplification equipment as well as ultra-low temperature freezers, fermentors, bioreactors, CO2 incubators, shakers, and cell manipulation systems. Consumables such as pipette tips, test tubes, microtiter plates, and single-use bioreactors complement the range of highest-quality premium products.

Eppendorf products are most broadly used in academic and commercial research laboratories, e.g., in companies from the pharmaceutical and biotechnological as well as the chemical and food industries. They are also used in laboratories that perform clinical or environmental analysis, in forensic laboratories, and in industrial laboratories where process analysis, production and quality assurance are performed.

Eppendorf was founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1945 and currently has more than 4,000 employees worldwide. The company has subsidiaries in 26 countries and is represented in all its other important markets by distributors.

Malaysia Continues to be the Preferred Location for Eppendorf’s Asia Pacific Headquarters

Kuala Lumpur, 3 November 2020 – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in collaboration with Majlis Rekabentuk Malaysia (MRM) and the Federation of Fashion Textile & Apparel (FMFTA) organised the ‘Design Development & Innovation 2020’, a one-day virtual conference themed ‘Creating a Sustainable Fashion Brand’ today.

The event which was streamed live from the MIDA Headquarters brought together prominent industry stakeholders and garnered over 600 registered participants. It is part of MIDA’s on-going efforts to emphasise the importance of merging design and development with innovation to revolutionise the fashion and design industry in Malaysia.

Dato’ Azman Mahmud, the Chief Executive Officer of MIDA remarked “We are not solely seeking to build our fashion, textile and apparel industry’s manufacturing capabilities, but also our design potential given our large and growing local talent pool in the field. This is essential to ensure the industry’s long term sustainability and to attract higher quality investments, particularly in the industry’s upstream sub-sector.”

As of June 2020, more than 1,800 textiles and apparels projects have been implemented and are in production in Malaysia, with investments of RM22 billion. These projects have created over 240,000 jobs.

He added, “The Government, through MIDA, is intensifying our efforts to spur stakeholders to adopt higher value-added processes and technologies. There are various support and facilitation for local companies to make a move towards Industry 4.0 through initiatives such as Domestic Investment Strategic Fund (DISF), Industry4wrd Intervention Fund and Automation Capital Allowance. But to truly achieve tangible outcomes, more needs to be done collectively as an active industry to increase focus on automation, talent, skills and innovation.”

The Forum provided opportunities for participants to engage and learn from the esteemed panellists, including representatives from Ben Sherman & Diesel, Burberry, Bonia, Anakku, Audrey and Foundationals; academic scientists as well as research scholars. The panellists shared on brand sustainability in the fashion industry, particularly formulation of efficient processes, creation of environmentally friendly products as well as the importance of innovations in the fashion, textile and apparel industry.

The event also showcased local young creative talents through the ‘Creative Design Competition’ for new creations in Design, Development & Innovation categories. The winners were awarded cash prizes and accredited by MRM under the MRM Standard 01:2020 as a Certified Industrial Designer (CID).

The event closed with a Biz-Consult programme, participated by MIDA, MATRADE, MRM, MIDF, SME Corp and SME Bank. The platform enabled industry players to directly engage and consult with relevant stakeholders on their business concerns and available support.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the Government’s principal investment promotion and development agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube channel.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Najihah Abas
Director of Building Technology and Lifestyle Division, MIDA
Tel.: 03-2267 6717 | Email: [email protected]

MIDA, MRM and FMFTA Host ‘Design Development & Innovation 2020’ Virtual Conference

Snapshot of New & Extended Incentives for the Manufacturing & Services Sectors

5 November 2018, Kuala Lumpur – “The new and extended incentives announced under Budget 2019 reflect Malaysia’s commitment in ensuring a conducive business environment for domestic and foreign investors against the backdrop of global challenges. As the principal investment promotion agency for the country, MIDA looks forward to the holistic study to review the 130 existing investment incentives under the purview of 32 Investment Promotion Agencies. This is in line with our continuous advocacy for incentives that are targeted, time-based and relevant to advances in technology and innovation. The review is timely to ensure the optimal use of the country’s resources,” said Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer of MIDA.

“MIDA has established an i-Incentives Portal under its Incentives Coordination and Collaboration Office (ICCO). This platform would be beneficial in assisting the review initiative as the portal is a one-stop centre that features information about all incentives currently available in the country. We would be pleased to share the information from ICCO and work with all relevant Government agencies and stakeholders for the review,” added Dato’ Azman.

For the manufacturing sector, companies should take advantage of the revisions of tax mechanisms and incentives, initiatives to promote the adoption of Industry 4.0, facilities for the production of environmentally-friendly plastics based on bio-resins and bio-polymers, incentives for SMEs as well as facilitation for logistics and transportation activities. MIDA has been encouraging the adoption of Industry 4.0 among industry players as it will provide the breakthrough necessary for Malaysia to increase its competitiveness on the world stage.

“One of the facilities provided by MIDA is the Automation Capital Allowance (ACA) which aims to encourage the quick adoption of automation, particularly in labour intensive industries. We also promote industry-academia collaborations and higher R&D activities to boost efficiency and productivity. With the large focus on Industry 4.0 in Budget 2019 and the launched of the Industry 4.0 blueprint known as Industry4WRD, we expect to see more high technology investments being realised in Malaysia. Under MIDA’s High Impact Fund, a Domestic Investment Strategic Fund (DISF) in the form of a matching grant is available to promote more R&D activities, international certification and standards as well as modernisation of facilities and equipment. MIDA has so far approved 308 projects with investments of RM14.7 billion, with an approved grant value of RM1.51 billion.We also trust that the double taxation deduction for expenses related to the National Dual Training Scheme for Industry 4.0 and other related programmes approved by MIDA will spur more companies to train or upscale their workforce in Industry 4.0 activities,” said the CEO of MIDA.

For the services sector, there were new introductions and revisions of incentives for principal hubs, green technology, tourism and healthcare tourism, technical education and vocational training (TVET), institutions of higher learning and utilisation of local service providers.

“While Principal Hub companies seeking an extension are now subjected to a tax rate, this review allows a broader scope of companies to benefit from the PH scheme such as companies with lower value-added income. In the long term, we believe that this revised scheme will increase the investment performance of the services sector as PH investments are the largest contributor to the overall foreign direct investments in the services sector under MIDA’s purview,” highlighted Dato’ Azman.

On the bold measures in supporting new technology developments, Dato’ Azman said, “Under the 9^th Strategy of Budget 2019, MIDA is excited about the prospects of alternative financing sources including streamlining the many venture capital funds managed by Government agencies and allocation of RM50 million to set up a Co-Investment Fund to invest alongside private investors via equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer financing. MIDA looks forward to work hand-in-hand with these entities towards bringing Malaysian companies that are financially limited but possess high potential in new technology areas.”

Given the more realistic and attainable fiscal positions under Budget 2019 and added clarity in policy directions for investors, the years ahead are expected to be positive particularly with the many initiatives in place to create a more dynamic economy for Malaysia.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Starting operations in 1967 with a relatively small set up of 37 staff, MIDA has grown to become a strong and dynamic organisation of over 700 employees. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA today has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, @OfficialMIDA.

Budget 2019 Reflects Malaysia’s Commitment to Ensure a Conducive Business Environment

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) today announced the outcome of their participation at the 9th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2018) that was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, last month

28 November 2018, Kuala Lumpur – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) today announced the outcome of their participation at the 9th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2018) that was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, last month.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of MIDA, Dato’ Azman Mahmud, “MIDA recorded 111 potential business projects worth RM4.1 billion in the areas of green technology for the manufacturing and services sector. Of the total, RM3.7 billion will be in the services sector while the rest are investments in manufacturing projects. We are excited to share that from the total, MIDA has secured 18 projects with investments of RM557 million mainly in the areas of renewable energy from solar and biogas, energy efficiency (EE), green building and green services.”

This follows the encouraging trend of investment leads received throughout MIDA’s participation in IGEM since 2014.

As the strategic partner of IGEM 2018, MIDA was involved in various programmes including business consultations, four sessions of ‘Pocket Talks’, a forum on Green Financing, a Financial Industry dialogue and an Energy Efficiency townhall.

IGEM is the biggest flagship event organised annually by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change (MESTECC) to create a platform for solution providers and green energy businesses to tap into the fast expanding ASEAN market by showcasing the latest innovations to policy makers, government organisations, investors and the mass market.

“MIDA will continue to collaborate with MESTECC to engage and participate in IGEM as it is a good platform for MIDA to connect with our stakeholders towards encouraging more investments in green projects. This is in line with the green initiatives driven by MESTECC to meet Malaysia’s aspirations for sustainable growth,” said the CEO of MIDA.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Starting operations in 1967 with a relatively small set up of 37 staff, MIDA has grown to become a strong and dynamic organisation of over 700 employees. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA today has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, @OfficialMIDA.

For more information, please contact:

Ms Wan Hashimah Wan Salleh

Director

Green Technology Division, MIDA

Tel.: 03-2267 3540

Email: [email protected]

MIDA Attracts 111 Potential Green Projects worth RM4.1 Billion at IGEM 2018

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in collaboration with Bursa Malaysia Berhad, organised a forum on the listing opportunities on Bursa Malaysia, today. Themed ‘Unlock Your Business Potential through Listing’, held at MIDA headquarters at Kuala Lumpur Sentral aimed to provide participants better understanding of the processes and procedures involved in a listing exercise as well as information on the benefits of the equity market

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 November 2019 – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in collaboration with Bursa Malaysia Berhad, organised a forum on the listing opportunities on Bursa Malaysia, today. Themed ‘Unlock Your Business Potential through Listing’, held at MIDA headquarters at Kuala Lumpur Sentral aimed to provide participants better understanding of the processes and procedures involved in a listing exercise as well as information on the benefits of the equity market.

YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), in his speech highlighted, “This forum is an excellent opportunity for businesses with global ambitions to gain valuable insights on the benefits, requirements and processes involved in the listing exercise. In line with the Government’s Shared Prosperity Vision (SPV) 2030 that seeks to boost SMEs contribution to the GDP from the present 38% to 50% by 2030, it is crucial that SMEs are equipped with the necessary knowledge and take advantage on the opportunity to access equity markets to unlock their true business potential.”

“Listing a company in Bursa Malaysia is not just about selling stocks. Besides facilitating fund raising to expand business activities, the listing will also elevate the status of the companies. It is also a testament to the success and long term viability of the business. The process of being listed could be seen as complex and time consuming but with the professional advice and facilitation provided through the Forum, we hope that everyone will have better understanding and knowledge from this event,” added YB Dr. Ong Kian Ming.

Dato’ Azman Mahmud, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MIDA said that the Forum is part of MIDA’s ongoing initiatives to facilitate companies that plan to expand their businesses and attract investments, “The dedicated Investment Coordination Platform (ICP) unit in MIDA has assisted more than 200 companies in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors, in conducting business-to-business (B2B) matching as well as capital raising through debt and equity, Mergers and Acquisition (M&A), divestments and IPO.”

Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, CEO of Bursa Malaysia said “Taking your companies public is more than just giving you access and opportunity to raise capital. Being listed will also instil the necessary discipline to adopt frameworks that will have a positive effect on the company. Bursa Malaysia will continue to play an active role to develop initiatives to improve the ecosystem and broaden access to investors. I encourage companies to talk to our IPO Marketing team for a free consultation and guidance on the listing process. Given the vital role SMEs play in the growth of the economy, we would also like to commend the government’s efforts in Budget 2020 to make listings on the ACE and LEAP Markets more affordable to help SMEs raise capital through the capital market.”

During the event, the Industrial Park Directory of Malaysia was also launched. The publication was the undertaken in conjunction with the series of Industrial Park Forums organised by MIDA and the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) throughout the country last year. This is in line with the Government’s priority to facilitate quality investments to support domestic companies through strategic public-private partnerships.

The Forum was well attended by 200 participants with a line-up of prominent speakers from the investment, financial and industrial segments. The two panel discussion sessions during the forum were entitled ‘Driving Growth via the Capital Market’ and ‘Bridging the Listing Gap through Pre – IPO’. There were also presentations on topics covering market outlook, overview of the listing marketplace on Bursa Malaysia as well as the overview of MIDA’s investment facilitation.

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For more information, please contact:

Mr. Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid

Director, Domestic Investment & Supply Chain Coordination Division

03-2267 6633 | [email protected]

About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Download:

Welcome Remark CEO MIDA Listing on Bursa

Welcome Remarks by CEO of Bursa Listing on Bursa

Keynote Address by YBDM MITI Listing on Bursa

Malaysian Companies to Attract Investment and Unlock Growth Opportunities by Listing on Bursa Malaysia

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) is partnering with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan’s largest and one of the world’s leading high-tech applied research institutions, in organising the Technology Talk and Smart Collaboration event at MIDA headquarters today. The event, which aims to further promote economic cooperation in trade, investments and Small & Medium Enterprise development, particularly in the fields of Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things and Circular Economy, was well attended by 150 participants

Kuala Lumpur, 21 November 2019 – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) is partnering with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan’s largest and one of the world’s leading high-tech applied research institutions, in organising the Technology Talk and Smart Collaboration event at MIDA headquarters today. The event, which aims to further promote economic cooperation in trade, investments and Small & Medium Enterprise development, particularly in the fields of Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Internet of Things and Circular Economy, was well attended by 150 participants.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Ahmad Khairuddin Abdul Rahim, Senior Executive Director of MIDA said, “Today’s effort is another step in the right direction towards preparing Malaysia to become an innovation-driven economy that will lead the country to achieve R&D intensity and GERD of at least 2.0% by 2020. Malaysia requires not only strong investments in R&D, innovation and commercialisation by its industry partners, but also successful partnerships with the research institutes. Over the years, MIDA has been intensifying its efforts to build stronger R&D linkages between the industry, academia and research institutions.”

As of 2018, MIDA approved a total of 184 R&D projects with investments worth RM2.97 billion. These comprise of 77 Contract R&D, 58 In-House R&D, 30 approved R&D companies and 19 R&D Status companies. They are mainly in pharmaceutical, chemical, healthcare, machinery, E&E, automotive, energy, medical devices, palm oil and food production industries. These projects have created over 6,500 job opportunities which are mostly in the science and technical fields.

“Companies in the manufacturing sector, especially SMEs, need to identify what are their shortcomings in terms of Industry 4.0 readiness and ways to scale up. We want them to understand their business and determine the best business model that is relevant to them in the most cost-effective way. So, to all companies that are embarking on the automation journey, please reach out to MIDA, as we offer various forms of facilitation for industry players to remain competitive,” added Mr. Ahmad Khairuddin.

MIDA and ITRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 7 May 2018 to have cooperation, among others, in facilitating joint projects; undertaking applied research, training and attachment programs; exchanging technical information and expertise in industrial technology. Following the MoU, MIDA organised two technology sharing sessions at its headquarters in 2018 and a working visit to ITRI in July this year.

ITRI has played a vital role in transforming Taiwan’s industries from ones that are labour-intensive to ones that are innovation-driven. It focuses on the fields of Smart Living, Quality Health and Sustainable Environment. On today’s event, ITRI shared the on-going developments and future trend in Taiwan as well as its experience on Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 implementation, particularly in sensor technology, automatic optical inspection and smart agriculture.

The event also featured a sharing session by SIRIM Berhad, Technology Park Malaysia (TPM), MIMOS Berhad, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (MTDC) and Inari Amertron Berhad on their perspective on Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 initiatives including their call for Smart Collaborations with Industry Players.

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About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Starting operations in 1967 with a relatively small set up of 37 staff, MIDA has grown to become a strong and dynamic organisation of over 700 employees. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA today has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, @OfficialMIDA.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Norhizam Ibrahim

Director, Advanced Technology and Research & Development, MIDA

03-2267 3468

[email protected]

Download:

Welcoming Remarks by SED of MIDA Tech Talk & Smart Collab with ITRI

MIDA Partners with Taiwan’s Largest Research Institutions to Drive R&D and Industry 4.0 Agenda

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in collaboration with Intel Malaysia organised the IoT Malaysia 2019 forum for the third consecutive year. The event is to promote the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in the country. Dato’ Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, Chairman of MIDA, officially launched the forum, which was well attended by over 300 participants from various industry sectors

Kuala Lumpur, 20 November 2019 – The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in collaboration with Intel Malaysia organised the IoT Malaysia 2019 forum for the third consecutive year. The event is to promote the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in the country. Dato’ Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, Chairman of MIDA, officially launched the forum, which was well attended by over 300 participants from various industry sectors earlier today.

“Forums, seminars and conferences like IoT Malaysia 2019 are instrumental in creating awareness among SMEs and start-up technopreneurs to explore the adoption and implementation of IoT, as a means to add value to their products and services. Ultimately, increasing their productivity and efficiency towards scaling up their businesses,”said Dato’ Abdul Majid commending this public-private collaborative effort.

“The E&E industry in Malaysia reflects the backbone of the Malaysian economy. We hope that by increasing the capacity and capability of Malaysian firms, start-ups, universities, and research institutes in technology areas such as IoT, Malaysia will emerge as a hub for high value and innovative technology commercialisation. This is to be achieved not only by improving industrial productivity but also increasing efficiency and reducing costs of local businesses. Local firms, especially SMEs, are urged to embrace and diversify into new fields,” added MIDA Chairman.

Mr. Eric Chan, Vice President of Intel IoT Group, said, “IoT Malaysia forum has become one of the most effective ways for us to join forces with MIDA and various government agencies to provide business networking, technology and knowledge sharing, bridging the regional expertise and local expertise. With the strong support from MIDA and other agencies, this forum has been very successful in building regional ecosystems for Malaysian players, and that is the very reason we keep going year after year.”

The Government continues to attract new quality investments from foreign investors and encourage existing foreign MNCs to move up the value chain. The Budget 2020 announced an allocation of customised investment package incentives up to RM1 billion annually over five years for targeted Fortune 500 and global unicorns in high technology, manufacturing, creative and new economy sectors. There is also an allocation for special incentives to further promote high value-added activities in the E&E industry to assist companies in transitioning into 5G digital economy and Industry 4.0.

“Through these facilities, MNCs can assume a strong role to support local companies and SMEs to grow. If MNCs can give SMEs a helping hand, just like what Intel is doing today, local companies and SMEs can leverage on the established IoT platforms of these MNCs. Local players will be able to step up to fill up the gaps in the IoT ecosystem by providing supporting technologies and services required,” said Dato’ Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan.

As of December 2018, over 4,000 E&E projects of investments worth RM204.9 billion have been implemented within the country. These projects have contributed to over 786,000 jobs. Additionally, MIDA has approved 48 E&E projects of investments over RM16.4 billion during the first half of 2019.

The full-day event featured real-life implementation of Industry 4.0 technology through live demo showcased by 20 technology partners of Intel such as Adlink, Advantech, IEI, Dell, HPE and Elliance. The topics covered include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Smart City, Energy and Manufacture Industry.

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For more information, please contact:

Ms Azlina Hamdan

Director, Electrical & Electronics Division

Tel: 03-2267 3791 I Email: [email protected]

About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Download:

Speech by Chairman of MIDA IoT Malaysia 2019

MIDA, Intel Organise IoT Malaysia 2019

93,841 Additional Jobs for the Rakyat, High Demand for Skilled Talents

Kuala Lumpur, 29 November 2019 – “Malaysia has become more selective in its investment agenda, attracting quality investments in targeted ecosystems that are projected to have significant knock-on effects throughout the domestic economy. For the first nine months of 2019, the country recorded RM149 billion worth of approved investments in the services, manufacturing and primary sectors. This was 4.4% higher than the RM142.6 billion approved in the same period last year. These investments involved 4,025 projects and will create an additional of 93,841 job opportunities,” announced YB Datuk Darell Leiking, Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

The majority of the investments came from domestic sources, which contributed RM82.7 billion or 55.5% of the total investments. Foreign direct investments (FDI) represented 44.5% or RM66.3 billion. Total approved FDI in these three main sectors increased by 6.5% to RM66.3 billion in January-September 2019 from RM62.2 billion in the same period last year.

Services Sector

The services sector attracted RM85 billion in 3,299 approved projects compared with RM74.9 billion in 2,931 projects recorded in the corresponding period last year. These projects are poised to generate over 38,800 employment opportunities. Of the total, 72% or RM61.2 billion were from domestic sources and the balance 28% or RM23.8 billion were foreign investments. Foreign investments in the sector displayed a significant increase of 160.2% during this period.

The bulk of approved investments in the services sector were from the real estate subsector with RM29.7 billion, followed by utilities with RM19.2 billion, global establishments (RM11.7 billion) and distributive trade (RM11.7 billion).

The approved investments for global establishments saw an increase of 185.7% in the first nine months of 2019. MIDA approved 126 projects proposing to make Malaysia the Principal Hubs, regional offices or representative offices. These activities are expected to create job opportunities for 884 knowledge-based or highly technical skilled workers. These projects will also position Malaysia on course for greater integration into the global supply chain.

A notable FDI project that was approved during this period is an investment by Integrated Device Technology (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. that has evolved its presence in Pulau Pinang since 1988 through the expansion of their global operations hub to complement their supply chain management activities. “With a commitment to invest RM11.4 billion for five years, starting from YA2022, and another RM11.4 billion from YA2027, this Principal Hub will manage and support the company’s businesses globally. This includes intellectual property management, research, development and innovation, and the setting up of an advance ‘Automotive Technology Centre’ to produce automotive sensors on chips in Malaysia. These activities will provide business opportunities for the locals and strengthen Malaysia’s electrical and electronics (E&E) ecosystem,” said YB Minister Datuk Darell.

Manufacturing Sector

A total of 671 manufacturing projects worth RM57.7 billion were approved in the first nine months of 2019 compared with 467 projects with investments of RM57.5 billion in January-September 2018. Domestic investments recorded RM18.5 billion or 32.1%, a rise of 81.7% from RM10.2 billion in the same period last year.

One of the significant domestic investments approved was from a Malaysian majority-owned company, Perusahaan Automobil Nasional Berhad (PROTON) for an expansion project to manufacture and assemble energy efficient vehicle (EEV) and related equipment. The project, with investments of RM2.6 billion, will be undertaken in Tanjung Malim, Perak.

Foreign investments contributed RM39.2 billion or 67.9% of total approved investments in the manufacturing sector. The United States of America (USA) accounted for the RM12.2 billion or 31.1% of total foreign investments in the manufacturing sector, followed by China (17.3%), Taiwan (13.0%), Singapore (11.5%) and Japan (8.9%).

Notable foreign investments include a new manufacturing project from Smith+Nephew Incorporated, a United Kingdom based company, which will be setting up its facility in Batu Kawan Industrial Park, Pulau Pinang to produce implants for orthopaedic surgery for knees and hips. Mr. Mark Gladwell, President of Global Operations at Smith+Nephew Incorporated, in the recent announcement of the project said, “Investing in Malaysia gives us a new presence close to our highest growth markets and enables Smith+Nephew to be part of a growing medical device centre of excellence.” Currently, Malaysia is home to over 200 industry manufacturers, including multinational companies and world-class supporting companies; putting the country on track to become the next global medical device manufacturing hub.

The approved manufacturing projects in January-September 2019 will create over 54,000 employment opportunities for the country. The jobs created include 2,319 electrical and electronics engineers, 1,500 mechanical engineers and 431 chemical engineers. In addition, the projects will also require about 5,647 skilled craftsmen such as plant maintenance supervisors, tools and die makers, machinists, IT personnel, quality controllers, electricians and welders.

According to YB Datuk Darell, “MITI is intensifying its efforts to create more skilled jobs for Malaysians. One of the efforts undertaken is the Apprenticeship Programme introduced by MIDA to address the shortage of technical skills. The Programme is a trilateral partnership between MIDA, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and the Ministry of Education (MOE). This is a two-year initiative where 16-year-old students are placed at a vocational college for six months to undergo academic and vocational courses and another six months of practical training in participating companies for two consecutive years. Under the National Dual Apprentice System (NDAS), Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) bears the course fees of up to RM10,000 per student. The participating companies are allowed to utilise its HRDF contribution to pay for the difference.”

Selangor registered the highest recipient of approved investments in the manufacturing sector amounting to RM16.4 billion, followed by Pulau Pinang (RM13.2 billion), Kedah (RM7.8 billion), Johor (RM7.7 billion) and Perak (RM4.8 billion). Collectively, these five states contributed 86.7% or RM50 billion from the total approved investment in the sector. These projects will provide more than 47,000 job opportunities to these states.

Primary Sector

The primary sector contributed RM6.3 billion or 4.2% of the total approved investments in January- September 2019. The mining subsector continued to lead with approved investments of RM5.9 billion, followed by plantation and commodities with RM275.2 million and agriculture with RM135.1 million. Foreign investments dominated the approved investments for the sector, totalling RM3.3 billion while domestic sources contributed RM3 billion.

Conclusion

“Malaysia is true to its ambition to become a preferred investment destination for innovation-based, knowledge-intensive investments within high-growth, high-value sectors. Despite ongoing trade tensions pointing to slower growth, we will stick to the course and continue attracting strategic partners to invest in Malaysia. This will generate more spillover impact on the economy through the growth of the local supply chain ecosystems and improvement of the Malaysian workforce,” said YB Datuk Darell.

As of September 2019, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) is actively negotiating 682 projects with proposed investments of RM37.6 billion.These include 242 projects within the manufacturing sector (RM26.6 billion) and 440 projects in the services sector (RM11.0 billion).

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For more information, please contact:

Ms. Zalina Zainol

Director, Corporate Communications Division

03-2263 2437| [email protected]

About MIDA

MIDA is the government’s principal promotion agency under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to oversee and drive investments into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, MIDA has 12 regional and 20 overseas offices. MIDA continues to be the strategic partner to businesses in seizing the opportunities arising from the technology revolution of this era. For more information, please visit www.mida.gov.my and follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Approved Investments Totalled RM149 Billion in Jan–Sept 2019