Malaysia records highest investment flow since 2006

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia attracted a record amount of approved investments of RM306.5bil for the manufacturing, services and primary sectors in 2021, the highest since 2006.

In a statement, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) recorded an 83% jump in approved investment in 2021 from RM167.4bil recorded in 2020.

It said the manufacturing sector continued to attract the highest approved investment in 2021 with a total of RM195.1bil for 702 projects.

The electrical and electronics (E&E) received the highest approved investments worth RM148bil.

In terms of foreign direct investment (FDI), Malaysia attracted RM208.6bil FDI in 2021, more than tripled from RM64.2bil in 2020.

Malaysia’s FDI of RM208.6bil accounted for 68.1% of total approved investments, with the remaining 31.9% coming from domestic direct investment at RM97.9bil.

However, the domestic direct investment (DDI) fell 5% to RM97.9bil in 2021 compared to RM103.2bil a year earlier.

“The Netherlands, Singapore, the People’s Republic of China, Austria, and Japan accounted for 88.9% of total FDI approved in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors,” MIDA said.