Industry reform policies among requisites for better-paying jobs

Malaysia’s stellar economic performance of 8.7% gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2022 – the highest in Asean last year – together with a low unemployment rate of 3.6% in December 2022 and low headline inflation of 3.2% despite global inflationary pressures, mean that we must be taken seriously. — Bloomberg

THE return of political stability with the formation of the unity government a little over 100 days ago, and the bleak prospects in many markets have placed Malaysia back on the radar of the foreign business and investment community.

This is evident especially during my visits abroad to promote Malaysia since being appointed the International Trade and Industry Minister in December 2022. From Jakarta to Davos, Abu Dhabi to Milan, and most recently, Singapore and Seoul for trade and investment missions, we were met with renewed interest by current and potential investors.