Editorial

It’s Time to Raise Our Game

Malaysia has no time to lose. We need a complete, radical economic transformation. The days of depending on traditional growth engines are over.

“Despite the uncertainties in the United States and Europe, Malaysia has been quite resilient,” said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

And resilient we were. Last year, the country’s total trade was valued at RM1.17 trillion, an increase of 18.3 percent from RM988.24 billion registered in 2009. We also succeed in Malaysia has wooing RM21.3 billion in foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the first half of this year representing a 76 percent surge in FDI (inflow) compared to RM12.1 billion in the same period last year. In fact, it was predicted that Malaysia’s FDI will exceed RM30 billion (US$9.89 billion) in 2011.

COVER STORIES

The one thing that will make a big difference to the Malaysian economy over the next five years is our ability to take a greater share of world trade.

It goes without saying exports is the mainstay of the Malaysian economy. Despite the fact that we were hit hard by the global slowdown, Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s third-largest economy, rebounded with an impressive 7.2 percent growth in 2010 after suffering a 1.7 percent contraction in 2009 due to the global slowdown. However, Abdul Kabur Ibrahim, the President of The Exporters Club is on a mission to improve the overall exporting activity of Malaysian companies and fill the global demand for that value proposition, especially selling successfully into fast growing and emerging markets that are in the process of building out their own physical infrastructure and production capacity.

Brimming with investment opportunities, it is not too late for Malaysian investors to expand their operations in one of the few markets in the world which offers high prospects for growth and earning potential in practically all areas of business.

Investment in clean power assets alone could reach US$2.3 trillion over the 2010-20 period. Countries that succeed in attracting investment can realize the economic, security and environmental benefits of the global race to harness clean, renewable energy sources.

The Green energy Community concept is about advocating innovation—looking at a way to reinvent communities to meet untapped customer needs for shelter and transportation with minimal environmental impacts, stable energy costs, and a sense of belonging.

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