PETALING JAYA: The outlook for Malaysia’s investment climate in the second half of 2024 remains positive, with experts expecting continued growth across key sectors.
Similarly, OCBC Bank senior Asean economist Lavanya Venkateswaran sees continued interest in Malaysia, provided the government remains committed to its reform agenda. However, economist Geoffrey Williams cautioned that much of the focus in 2H24 will be on consolidating and finalising deals.He highlighted external risks such as ringgit volatility, US interest rates and the geopolitical impact of the upcoming US elections.
In the 1H24, Malaysia’s total approved investments reached RM160bil, marking an 18% year-on-year growth. “An escalation in the United States-China trade war, particularly if Trump wins the election, could disrupt investments and trade,” Chua added. Lavanya from OCBC echoed these concerns, emphasising that geopolitical factors, including the outcome of the US elections, could significantly impact Malaysia’s investment and export growth.