Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), in conjunction with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), has approved 5,899 manufacturing investment projects valued at RM774.4 billion between 2020 and 2025. These investments have the potential to generate approximately 502,493 new jobs.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, MITI reported that 5,087 projects, accounting for 86.2 percent of the total investments and worth RM587.4 billion, have already been realized. These completed projects have resulted in the creation of 416,914 jobs, with almost 40 percent of these positions classified under management, professional, technical, supervisory, and skilled (MTS) categories.
The ministry's statement was in response to inquiries from Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar regarding the ratio of approved to realized investments, sectors experiencing significant gaps, and government strategies to convert investment commitments into high-quality employment opportunities for Malaysians. MITI identified that the most significant gap between approved and realized investments is seen in large-scale, capital-intensive projects. These projects often require extended implementation periods and involve complex technologies.
MITI explained that the observed gap is consistent with the phased approach typical for these projects, aligning with their individual development timelines. In collaboration with MIDA, MITI is implementing strategic measures to ensure that incoming investments result in the creation of high-quality jobs. These include attracting high-value-added investments in key sectors such as semiconductors, the digital economy, green technology, and aerospace, while also focusing on investment facilitation, project acceleration, and human capital development.
Furthermore, the government is promoting research and development, automation, and innovation as part of its strategy to create high-income jobs and boost national productivity. To ensure local communities benefit from these investments, the government imposes specific conditions on the approval of manufacturing licenses and foreign investment projects with high potential. These conditions include mandates to employ local workers, conduct industrial training programs, and collaborate with local universities and research institutions.