Investors upbeat on Malaysia as FDI destination: Najib

Prime Minister Najib at the Harvard Club. - Reuters pic

NEW YORK, Sept 26 — Investors remain confident about Malaysia as a foreign direct investment (FDI) destination despite the declining inflows of FDI into the country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib said yesterday.

He said Malaysia recorded inflows of US$10.16 billion (RM32.6 billion) in 2012 and maintained its ranking as the third-largest recipient of FDIs in ASEAN in the World Investment Report 2013 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

UNCTAD also ranked Malaysia 11th among 20 economies with the highest FDI profitability, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said at the “Global Investment Symposium” at Havard Club New York here yesterday.

The symposium, aimed at promoting Malaysia, specifically Greater Kuala Lumpur, as an investment proposition and destination for US investors, was well attended by American businessmen, investors and captains of industry.

Najib said the 17 per cent rate of return recorded by Malaysia was testimony that Malaysia was profitable for businesses.

Malaysia continues to draw French investors

Let’s talk business: Najib walking with Ayrault upon the French Prime Minister’s arrival. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia continues to attract investments from French companies with the latest being a factory to manufacture aircraft components in Sendayan, Negri Sem­bilan.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the investments were evidence of the strong relationship between both countries.

Speaking at a joint press conference with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault here yesterday, Najib described the investments as exciting.

He said the US$135mil (RM405) project was an investment to produce carbon discs for aircraft brakes for the entire Asian market.

“Then we have the biotech investment in Terengganu between Arke­ma of France and CJ CheilJedang of South Korea. These are two significant investments and we look forward to receiving more from French investors,” he said.

Najib and Ayrault earlier held an hour-long bilateral discussion where they agreed on the need to venture into new areas of co-operation, particularly in renewable energy, transportation and biotech.

Najib said the discussion also touched on defence co-operation, taking into account that the defence ministers from both countries would meet in December, to discuss more substantive issues.

Investors show trust in Malaysia

ECONOMIC REALITY: Their sentiment is not marred by the negative image painted by the opposition.

WHEN it comes to choosing where to invest our money in, trust and confidence are but two of the primary considerations.

So, when fund managers managing RM13 trillion worth of assets came for the annual Invest Malaysia gathering two weeks ago, it says a lot about Malaysia's continued presence on both home and foreign investors' radars. Participants at the forum said it was easily the largest ever gathering of fund and asset managers at the annual event.

On any other day, the number of attendees would not be as surprising. Malaysia has always been at the top of the list of regional destinations favoured by investors. The nation has enjoyed stability, has a progressive legislation in as far as investment is concerned and has remained largely predictable and consistent in regulatory frameworks it has designed for the investment market. But the annual event two weeks ago wasn't just any other day.

Malaysia had just undergone what many described as one of the most bruising general elections in its history. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was attacked viciously on all fronts in the months leading to the polling day.

His political opponents stopped at nothing to discredit everything his government had done for Malaysia.

And, this time, and especially with the advent of the Internet, the political smearing of Malaysia took on an even wider spectrum, in that the perception battle was not fought entirely in Malaysia.