Mier forecasts 4.5% GDP growth this year

Growth driver: A file picture showing an employee at work at the new Boon Siew Honda factory in Kepala Batas. Domestic demand is expected to continue to be the driver of GDP growth in 2017.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (Mier) has forecast a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4.5% for Malaysia this year against an estimated growth of 4.2% projected for 2016.

Executive director Dr Zakariah Abdul Rashid said the projection was based on the country’s healthy trade balance in September, October and November last year, which stood at RM6.6bil, RM9.8bil and RM9bil, respectively.