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Home > Trading with Malaysia

Malaysia is among the world’s top 20 trading nations. The country offers the international community a variety of world class products such as electrical and electronic products, high quality textiles and apparel, furniture, palm oil-based, rubber-based and wood products.

Malaysia has a strong, open economy and a Government committed to international competitiveness in terms of trade and investment.

This is being achieved through skills upgrading, management and organisational excellence and more intensive R&D efforts. Recognising that information and communications technologies are changing the face of international trade, resource flows and competition, Malaysia is continuously upgrading its communications and multimedia infrastructure to support its trading and commercial activities.

Conducive Business Environment
Recognising that her long-term prosperity is dependent on the maintenance of an open trading environment, Malaysia has put in place policies and incentives that make trade and related business transactions easy, secure and reliable. Her liberal trade and investment promotion policies and measures have attracted and anchored global players.

The country’s competitive position has been maintained by its responsiveness to changing market conditions, an adaptable labour force, low inflation and a well developed financial sector. A stable and pro-business government ensures a conducive environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation. Embedded in its policy framework is Malaysia’s commitment to the basic principles of transparency, fairness, healthy competition and industry involvement in policy formulation.

Malaysia’s commitment to continuous quality improvement and meeting global standards has resulted in the development of world class products and services.

Important Factors

Malaysia is one of the world’s largest producer of microchips. It is also a leading producer of air conditioners, rubber gloves and palm oil.
Malaysia’s communications links are among the best in Asia. The country is taking a co-ordinated and integrated approach to expand and upgrade its roads and highways, railways, ports, airports and telecommunications systems.
A dynamic ICT development programme is being implemented across all sectors to establish a sound knowledge-based economy in order to add value to all economic sectors.
Malaysia has a well developed financial and banking sector. Malaysia also enjoys a natural niche market in Islamic banking and finance
Strong synergy and co-operation within the country’s public and private sectors helps in continuous improvements in efficiency and reliability.

Building ICT Competence

Rapidly developing ICT infrastructure
Increasing involvement in E-commerce and E-business
Malaysia’s Multimedia Super Corridor is attracting highly skilled, adaptable knowledge workers
Malaysia is targeting to produce more knowledge workers

Commitment to Export Excellence
The country has a well established manufacturing industry, a steadily growing SME sector, and an increasingly significant services industry, all committed to export excellence.

Its broad-based manufacturing sector is a vital and integral part of the economy, accounting for more than 80% of total exports. Manufacturing companies are streamlining operations, innovating products and processes, to capitalise on new opportunities and new markets.

Some of the world’s best-known brands such as Intel, Panasonic, Motorola, Carrier, BASF, Dell, Hewlett Packard and Nestle are made in Malaysia. In addition, home-grown companies have been successful in establishing international recognition for brands such as Petronas, Proton, Royal Selangor and Sime Tyres.

Malaysia has also enhanced the export capabilities of its services sector, which includes healthcare, education, engineering consultancy, architecture, business consultancy, printing, information and communications technology, construction and plantation management.

A wide range of highly sophisticated private healthcare and medical services are being marketed overseas. The country’s architectural, construction and oil and gas engineering expertise is being used in sub-Saharan and South Africa, Papua New Guinea and West Asia.