GDP growth forecast achievable with border reopening, says Tok Pa

JAKARTA: Malaysia is on the right track to achieve its gross domestic product (GDP) growth projection of 5.5% to 6.5% for this year with the reopening of its international borders from April 1.

The move will have a positive impact on the economy, especially the services sector, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (pic).

"All citizens and the business community alike, including small and medium industry operators, have been eagerly waiting for the borders to reopen.

"Consequently, we are confident of achieving the GDP growth forecast of around 5.5%-6.5%," he told reporters during his visit to the Malaysia Healthcare Expo 2022 here on Sunday (March 27).

The expo is organised by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC).

According to Mustapa, Johor is set to be one of the main beneficiaries from the border reopening as cross-border activities between Malaysia and Singapore resume

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the country will begin its transition into the endemic phase of Covid-19 and that the international borders will reopen starting April 1.

Mustapa, who is also the co-chairman of MHTC, said he expected the arrival of Indonesian medical tourists into Malaysia to return to the pre-pandemic level by 2025.

In 2019, more than 675,000 Indonesian citizens sought medical treatment in Malaysia, but the number dropped to just 635 between 2020 and 2021.

Mustapa said he hoped that the arrival of medical tourists would gradually increase following the reopening of the border, giving the country’s health tourism industry a much-needed boost.

"Malaysia promises safe and secure healthcare for Indonesia's medical tourists," he said.

During the four-day expo which ends Sunday, four state tourism representatives and 10 MHTC member hospitals showcased the best healthcare offerings in Malaysia, including in the fields of fertility, cardiology, oncology and Hepatitis C. – Bernama