The value of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Malaysia this year is expected to surpass last year's RM41 billion despite the challenging economic climate, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
The Prime Minister said this was driven by the government's transformation programmes that had borne fruit and helped to maintain Malaysia as a highly attractive investment destination.
"We will continue to adapt and adjust in keeping with our national needs and the external environment around us," he said in his keynote address at the 31st Asia-Pacific Roundtable 2017 Welcoming Dinner here tonight.
His speech was read by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
Najib said Malaysia's foreign policy also contributed to its progress through cooperation with the nation's friends and partners.
"The government had signed comprehensive and strategic partnership with a number of countries, including the United States, China and India.
"The government had signed comprehensive and strategic partnership with a number of countries, including the United States, China and India.
"We welcome friendship and cooperation and the pursuit of legitimate interest," he said.
Najib said in the last year alone there had been many meetings, including with heads of government and head of states of the ASEAN countries, the US, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan, Iran, France, Germany, and most recently Bahrain.
"These interactions and agreements have concrete results in term of trade and jobs, such as the RM144 billion investment by China in Malaysia, Saudi's Aramco RM31 billion investment in Petronas'' Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development in Johor, and the RM159 billion investment and economic cooperation deals agreed with India," he said.
The Prime Minister said the government foreign policy had been forging new bonds in the region and beyond, and strengthening ties with old friends.
On ASEAN, Najib said the regional movement had recorded many milestone, including achieving US$1 trillion total trade in less than a decade from the mid-2000s.
He said ASEAN had also attracted more than US$130 billion in FDI, representing more than 10 per cent in global FDI inflows.
"This is an organisation that with all its faultiness could have gone the way of separation and conflict a long time ago, but has instead underscored community, consensus-building and connectivity," he said.
Themed "The Future of the Asia Pacific: Issues and Institutions in Flux", the three-day forum beginning today attracted participants from 36 countries to discuss various challenges and opportunities in the region.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Mon May 22 2017
PM NAJIB: We will continue to adapt and adjust in keeping with our national needs and the external environment around us.
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