Kuala lumpur: Malaysia has made significant strides in attracting high-tech investments, securing RM190.3 billion in approved investments in the first half of 2025. Deputy Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong highlighted the proactive efforts of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in introducing new policies and strategies to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the high-tech sector, which is gaining international investors’ confidence.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the government has implemented several measures, including the New Investment Policy, the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, the National Semiconductor Strategy, and the Green Investment Strategy. The New Investment Incentive Framework (NIIF) emphasizes the digital and green sectors, while the Digital Investment Office (DIO) was established as a collaboration between MIDA and the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to facilitate digital investment.
Additional measures involve strengthening the supply chain ecosystem between local and multinational companies, setting conditions for local vendor collaboration, implementing industrial training programs, and developing an i-Services Portal to connect service providers with investors. The government is also focused on providing a conducive ecosystem, such as the 5G network, to accommodate technology investment needs.
Efforts are underway to promote automation in the manufacturing sector to reduce dependence on foreign workers, aligning with the aspirations of MADANI Malaysia and NIMP 2030. The RM190.3 billion in approved investments span 3,011 projects, expected to generate 89,294 job opportunities. Foreign investments accounted for RM106.8 billion or 56.1 percent, while local investments made up RM83.5 billion or 43.9 percent.
The focus sectors under the National Investment Aspirations (NIA) contributed RM88.3 billion or 46.4 percent, involving 426 projects with the potential to create 33,891 new jobs. These sectors include the digital economy, electrical and electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace.
“This achievement has borne fruit with Malaysia’s position in the World Competitiveness Ranking 2025 rising 11 places, from 34th to 23rd, marking the best position since 2020,” stated Liew. In line with the MADANI Economy aspiration of positioning Malaysia among the 12 most competitive countries by 2030, the Malaysia Productivity Corporation is engaging stakeholders to continue improving the country’s performance in future competitiveness reports.