17 August 2021
Look past the grim headlines of Malaysia’s immediate challenges in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic and you’ll find a brighter long-term outlook. Despite a slow start, Malaysia now boasts one of the fastest vaccination rates in the world in an effort to break the cycle of lockdowns which has disrupted economic activities.
As Malaysia moves ahead on its road to recovery, investors are taking a long-term view on the country’s prospects. In June 2021, Singapore’s GIC announced its US$180m investment in Malaysia’s healthcare sector. Other recent bright spots include Malaysia’s rubber glove and palm oil industries.
Looking further ahead, the Twelfth Malaysia Plan for the 2021-2025 period will encompass economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and social re-engineering to set the way forward. In addition to ongoing ASEAN economic integration, Malaysia is expected to ratify both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive Economic and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to gain market access to nearly a third of the world’s population and a range of other benefits.
What does it all mean for businesses and investors? In this event, our panellists unpacked the challenges Malaysia faces at home and abroad as the world emerges from the COVID-19 crisis:
- Possible scenarios moving forward in Malaysia for 2H 2021 and 2022
- How the rise of protectionism and unilateralism impact Malaysia’s exporters
- How the newly-signed RCEP provides new trade opportunities to Malaysia
- How the global transition to green energy will impact Malaysia’s energy exports
