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Home Invest W hy Malay sia? : Advantages of Malay sia Investing in Iskandar Malay sia The 5 Flagship Zones Foreign Investment Overview Committed Development w ithin IM Overall Development Plan Map
Economic Strength Continuous Economic Growth Supportive Government Policies Liberal Equity Policy Employment of Expatriates Attractive Tax Incentives High Priority on Education Industrial Training Harmonious Industrial Relations Developed Infrastructure Network of Highways Efficient Seaports International Airports
Developed Industrial Parks Specialised Parks High-Tech Telecommunications A Vibrant Business Environment Chambers of Commerce and Industry Developed Financial Facilities Local Vendors Joint-Venture Partners in Malaysia Quality of Life Comfortable Housing International Schools Shopping An Unsurpassed Lifestyle
Economic Strength
Malaysia is a country on the move. Often dubbed the "lucky country" because of its wealth of mineral resources and fertile soils, Malaysia did not rest on its laurels but took decisive steps to progress from an economy dependent on agriculture and primary commodities in the sixties to a manufacturing-based, export-driven economy spurred on by high technology, knowledgebased and capital-intensive industries. The structural transformation of Malaysia's economy over the last 40 years has been spectacular.
Employment of Expatriates
Foreign companies in the manufacturing sector are allowed to employ expatriates where certain skills are not available in Malaysia. A company with foreign paid-up capital of US$2 million and above will be allowed up to 10 expatriate posts, including five key posts, that is, posts that are permanently filled by foreigners.
Industrial Training
In 1993, the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) was launched by the government to encourage training, retraining and skills upgrading in the private sector. Employers, in the manufacturing and service sectors who contribute to this fund are eligible to apply for grants to defray or subsidise the costs incurred in training and retraining their workforce. The National Vocational Training Council under the Ministry of Human Resources coordinates the planning and development of a comprehensive system of vocational and industrial training programmes for all public training agencies. It also develops the National Occupational Skills Standards (NOSS) on a continuous basis. To-date, there are more than 700 standards covering certificate, diploma and advanced diploma qualifications. Besides the increasing number of public training institutions such as technical schools, polytechnics, industrial training institutes and skills development centres to meet the growing requirements of the industrial sector, collaborative efforts between the Malaysian government, enterprises and foreign governments have resulted in the establishment of several advanced skills training institutes such as the German-Malaysian Institute, Malaysia France Institute, Japan Malaysia Technical Institute, British Malaysia Institute and Malaysian Spanish Institute.
Developed Infrastructure
Malaysia's persistent drive to develop and upgrade its infrastructure has resulted in one of the most well-developed infrastructure among the newly industrialising countries of Asia. The greatest advantage to manufacturers in Malaysia has been the nation's persistent drive to develop and upgrade its infrastructure. Over the years, these investments have paid off and serious bottlenecks have been avoided. Today, Malaysia can boast of having one of the most well-developed infrastructure among the newly industrialising countries of Asia.
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Network of Highways
Peninsular Malaysia's network of well-maintained highways is a boon to industries. These highways link major growth centres to seaports and airports throughout the peninsula and provide an efficient means of transportation for goods. To complement these highways, a Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur containerised service known as the Asean Rail Express (ARX) has been initiated with the aim of expanding it to become the Trans-Asia Rail Link that will include Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar before ending up in Kunming, China.
Efficient Seaports
International trade, especially seaborne trade, has traditionally been the lifeblood of Malaysia. Today, 95% of the country's trade is by sea via Malaysia's seven international ports - Penang Port, Port Klang, Johor Port, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Kuantan Port and Kemaman Port in Peninsular Malaysia and Bintulu Port in Sarawak. Hong Kong-based Cargonews Asia placed Port Klang and Port of Tanjung Pelepas among Asia's top ten best seaports and top ten best container terminal operators. Port Klang's central location and the government's emphasis on making the port a national and regional hub has resulted in an increasing volume of cargo.Port Klang recorded 4.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for 2002, which ranks it the top 11th in the world. Port Klang's Westport has excellent deep water facilities which allow the world's largest ships to dock without any difficulty. Malaysia's newest port, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), at the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, commenced operations in late 1999. With the location of Maersk-Sealand's and Evergreen's transhipment facilities at PTP, the port is expected to achieve an annual cargo volume of 2.5 million TEUs in 2003. Another port, Kuantan Port on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, is also undergoing a 30-year expansion to meet increasing throughput from the massive petrochemical complex along the Kertih-Gebeng corridor. Besides the physical infrastructure being in place, the electronic data interchange (EDI) in Port Klang, Penang Port and Johor Port has allowed speedy clearance of cargo with the electronic transfer of documentation.
International Airports
Malaysia's central location in the Asia Pacific region makes her an ideal gateway to Asia. Air cargo facilities are well-developed in the five international airports - the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Penang International Airport and Langkawi International Airport in Peninsular Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu International Airport in Sabah, and Kuching International Airport in Sarawak. Malaysia's biggest airport, the KLIA, located 50 kilometres south of Malaysia's federal capital of Kuala Lumpur, has an initial capacity of 25 million passengers and 650,000 tonnes of cargo per year. Cargo import and export procedures are fully automated at the KLIA to cut down delivery time. Within a short span of two years since its opening, the KLIA was ranked number one for overall business passenger satisfaction in an International Air Transport Association (AITA) survey.
Specialised Parks
Specialised parks have been developed in Malaysia to cater to the needs of specific industries. Examples of these parks are the Technology Park Malaysia in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur and the Kulim Hi-Tech Park in the northern state of Kedah which cater to technology-intensive industries and R&D activities. TPM is among the world's most advanced and comprehensive centres for R&D by knowledge based industries. Spanning 300 hectares (750 acres), its first phase comprises 12 state-of-the-art buildings with specific functions.
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High-Tech Telecommunications
Malaysia's telecommunications network has seen impressive expansion and upgrading during the past decade following the successful privatisation of its Telecommunications Department. The latest digital and fibre optics technology is being used to provide high quality telecommunication services at competitive prices.
Local Vendors
Over the last three decades, Malaysia has developed a large pool of ancillary and supporting industries that was initiated with the entry of MNCs into the country. These MNCs, especially those which pursued active vendor development programmes, have contributed greatly towards the development of local small-and-medium scale industries (SMIs) that are highly competent and competitive with some even penetrating export markets.
Quality of Life
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Comfortable Housing
There is a wide selection of comfortable housing in Malaysia. According to a survey on expatriate living costs by the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce & Industry, monthly rentals for accommodation can range from as low as RM2,700 - 8,500 (US$762-2,398) for a furnished 3-bedroom condominium in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur to RM10,000 - 28,000 (US$2,821-7,900) for a luxury bungalow in the posh neighbourhood of Kenny Hills nearer to the city.
International Schools
There are over 30 international schools registered with the Ministry of Education. These schools are located in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, and in the states of Johor, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak. They include American- and British-style international schools as well as French, German, Japanese and Taiwanese schools that have facilities for pre-school to college education.
Shopping
With the wide range of foodstuffs and consumer products available in the supermarkets and departmental stores, expatriate wives will find Malaysia a home-away-from-home. Establishments in Malaysia cater for every taste and budget and range from shopping malls to hypermarkets to specialty stores. A novelty for expatriates is the pasar malam or night market where hawker stalls sell almost anything from fresh fruits and vegetables to clothing and shoes. Malaysia is also a treasure chest of artifacts and antiques, and expatriates usually not only take back with them fond memories of their stay but also many a collector's item as well .
An Unsurpassed Lifestyle
Life in Malaysia is an adventure. The year-long warm and sunny climate offers an unsurpassed lifestyle, especially for people who love the outdoors. Families can spend many an exciting weekend at Malaysia's national parks with their magnificent rivers and mountains. Or fly to one of the many island retreats for snorkelling and scuba diving. Or drive for a game of golf in a cool hill resort. For people who prefer to be indoors, they can shop-until-they-drop in ultra-modern shopping complexes that offer the latest in designer fashions, leather goods and electronic items at very competitive prices. A not-to-be-missed attraction in the federal capital of Kuala Lumpur is the Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest building, where one can enjoy world-class performances in the acoustically-perfect Petronas Philharmonic Hall. Where dining is concerned, Malaysia is one of the countries in the world where a family can afford to eat out almost everyday of the week. Depending on one's budget, the choice of eating places can range from posh hotels and chic sidewalk cafes to fast-food joints and hawker stalls. No one ever gets bored from the limitless variety of cuisines available.
Why Malaysia?
Advantages of M alaysia Facts & Figures Key Economic Indicators
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