FRANKFURT, Jan 21 (Bernama) — Although figures of German investments in Malaysia for 2014 are yet to be finalised, its investments in Malaysia from January to September 2014 were higher than for the whole of 2013.
The Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) in Franfurt showed that German investments in Malaysia’s manufacturing sector rose to RM4 billion in the January-September 2014 period, up from RM1.7 billion for the whole of 2013.
Its director, S. Sivasuriyamoorthy, said Germany was the world’s fourth largest investor in Malaysia.
“There were nine German projects approved during the period and they were expected to generate 1,371 jobs.
“The investments were mainly in chemical and chemical products, plastic products and petroleum products including petrochemicals,” he told Bernama today.
He said Japan was the world’s leading foreign investment source in Malaysia with an investment of RM10.6 billion in the first nine months of 2014, followed by Singapore (RM5.7 billion) and China (RM4.7 billion).
Sivasuriyamoorthy said even though 2014 was a good year for investment inflow from Germany, he expected 2015 to be challenging given the uncertainties plaguing the economies of European countries.
He said Netherlands continued to be the third largest European investor after Germany in Malaysia.
“The inflow from Netherlands for the period January-September 2014 amounted to RM1 billion compared with RM2.3 billion for the whole of 2013.
“There were nine projects involving Dutch investing companies that were approved in the January-September 2014 period.
“The investments were for electronic and electrical industry, petroleum products including petrochemicals, scientific and measuring equipment industry in Melaka, Sarawak and Penang,” he said, adding that MIDA would be facilitating a Perlis mission to meet two leading Dutch agricultural companies — Enza Zaden and INCOTEC.
“The mission, organised by Malaysia’s Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, is aimed at devising strategies to promote socio-economic development in the northern Peninsular Malaysia states of Kedah, Perak, Perlis and Penang.
“The focus will be on agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, logistics, education and human capital sectors in 21 districts in the four states,” he said.
— BERNAMA
