Jetro said the poll, which covered Japanese firms in 20 countries/regions, found that this represented the smallest rate of decline among the six participating Asean countries compared to the 2019 survey.
The Philippines and Vietnam recorded the highest decline in “expansion”, according to the 2020 Jetro Survey on Business Conditions of Japanese Companies Operating Overseas , which was conducted from Aug 24 to Sept 25 last year. The organisation said electrical and electronics, the primary industry in Malaysia, had an “expansion” rate at 38.3%, higher than the overall average for Malaysia. The same industry in Vietnam and the Philippines showed strong intentions for expansion as well.