Kuala Lumpur: There is sustained interest coming from United States companies looking to invest in Malaysia amidst the US-China trade tensions. American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) chief executive officer Datuk Siobhan M. Das indicated that these interests are primarily from sectors where traditional investments have been significant.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Siobhan noted that the attractiveness of Malaysia for US investors has grown exponentially over the last five years and is expected to continue. She emphasized that the ongoing US-China tensions are providing new opportunities for investment in Malaysia. “The amount of investments that have landed in Malaysia is significant. The US is probably the largest investor in Malaysia right now,” Siobhan stated during an interview with Bernama.
Siobhan was a guest on Bernama TV’s ‘The Nation’ programme entitled “In Focus: Malaysia-US Trade Relations,” hosted by Jessy Chahal. Currently, more than 600 American companies are present in Malaysia, and they are particularly interested in sectors such as high value, high technology, specialty, and quality-driven industries.
She highlighted that Malaysia is well-equipped to deliver in these areas, with sectors like electronics and electrical (E and E), semiconductors, medical technology, aerospace, chemicals, and information and communications technology (ICT) showing significant growth. There are also opportunities in emerging industries such as critical minerals.
According to Malaysia’s Trade Performance report, trade with the US increased by 29.9 percent in 2024, reaching RM324.91 billion compared to 2023. Trade with the US accounted for 11.3 percent of Malaysia’s total trade, with exports to the US reaching a record high of RM198.65 billion, marking a 23.2 percent increase.
Siobhan mentioned that AmCham’s strength lies in its ability to gather and convey information from its members to the government while collaborating closely with it. Discussing potential future changes in US tariffs, she expressed that with negotiations and understanding, there could be a reduction in tariffs. However, she noted that it is still early to predict the direction of these changes, as various factors are at play.
During the program, Siobhan also remarked on the resilience of bilateral ties between the US and Malaysia, which are underpinned by diverse economic relationships. She praised the Malaysian government’s pragmatic approach in understanding US needs and formulating business matches. Siobhan emphasized the importance of Malaysia becoming more competitive and focused on high-value areas to attract the right investments.