Penang:Malaysia is focusing on leveraging its industrial ecosystem, skilled workforce, infrastructure, and market access to attract high-quality investments from the United States, as competition intensifies with other Asian nations.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Sim Tze Tzin emphasized Malaysia's competitive edge, built over five decades, enabling the country to attract investors not just through cost or incentives, but by providing a comprehensive ecosystem for quick operational commencement. This was highlighted during his keynote speech at the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Penang Dialogue 2026.

Sim pointed out Malaysia's strong investment performance, noting that the country secured RM426.7 billion in approved investments in 2025, marking an 11% increase year-on-year and the third consecutive year of record investment levels. From 2023 to 2025, total approved investments, including foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic direct investment (DDI), amounted to RM1.143 trillion.

Discussing Malaysia-US economic relations, Sim acknowledged the significant role American companies have played in Malaysia's economic development, contributing to the creation of numerous skilled jobs. He highlighted that many senior executives in US technology firms in Penang are Malaysians who began their careers on the factory floor.

Sim expressed Malaysia's desire to evolve its relationship with US companies from merely an assembly location to a strategic partnership, encouraging more local purchases and advanced research and development activities. He noted that US direct investment in Malaysia has been between RM10 billion and RM12 billion annually over the past three years.

Additionally, Malaysia-US trade reached RM328.8 billion in the first eight months of 2026, a 35.7% increase, while Malaysia's exports to the US rose by 17.2% to over RM233 billion in 2025, establishing the US as Malaysia's second-largest export destination.