External trade the main driver of GDP growth

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s economic performance is anticipated to normalise in the first quarter of 2023 (1Q23), with external trade being the main growth driver for gross domestic product (GDP).

Malaysia University of Science and Technology economics professor Geoffrey Williams and HELP University economist Paolo Casadio, in a joint response to StarBiz, said they expect GDP in 1Q23 to grow 2.6% year-on-year but contract 0.1% on a quarterly basis.