malaysiakini logo
story-image
mk-logo
News
Najib: M'sia needs to regain interaction with US to boost trade
ADS

Malaysia needs to regain its level of interaction with the United States to further boost trade and investments between both countries, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“Last year, trade between our countries amounted to nearly $33 billion. While this is an improvement on recent years, it used to be considerably more in the past,” he said in his blog.

He said there were huge opportunities for the two countries to explore and pointed out the great benefits to come from closer trade and investment ties.

The prime minister is currently on a three-day working visit to the US where he held talks with President Donald Trump at the White House.

Najib said that last year alone, American companies brought in RM5 billion, or more than $1 billion, of foreign direct investments (FDI) into Malaysia.

The US, he noted, was the fifth largest foreign investor in the country at RM36 billion or $8.5 billion worth of FDI stock.

“Malaysia is uniquely positioned as a gateway to the Asean market of 625 million people, and to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership which – when concluded – will cover 50 percent of the world’s population and over 30 percent of the global gross domestic product.

“Many in the international business community are already taking advantage of our strategic position, our young, motivated, English-speaking workforce, business-friendly policies, and these companies are voting with their feet,” he said.

Najib shared some examples, including that of Broadcom Ltd, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies – with American roots – and a market capitalisation of nearly half a trillion dollars, which was going to transfer its global distribution hub to Malaysia this year.

He said plenty more of other US-based firms are enhancing their presence in Malaysia, citing Coca-Cola, which had already invested RM1 billion since 2010, having in March this year announced an additional RM500 million to expand the size and production capacity of its plant in the country.

“I was also pleased that, as announced earlier, Malaysia Airlines Bhd and Boeing Aircraft Corporation have signed a $3.9 billion memorandum of understanding.

“It will include Boeing setting up a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility in Kuala Lumpur in cooperation with Malaysia Airlines to specialise in the Boeing 787, Boeing Max and Boeing NG aircraft.

“As a final note, I shared that, as we celebrate 60 years of strong bilateral ties between Malaysia and the US this year, we look forward to the next 60 being marked by an even closer relationship in many areas –particularly in trade and commerce.

“This government stands ready to assist them in any way, and we hope to see them in Malaysia soon,” he added.

--Bernama

RELATED STORIES

Najib at White House for meeting with Trump

Don't mortgage our economy for Trump photo-op, Azmin tells Najib

Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Najib

White House: We didn't book Najib's stay at Trump Hotel

No press conference, Najib's media shy meeting with Trump

A lopsided meeting between Trump and Najib

Twitterjaya baffled by PM's pledge to 'strengthen' US economy

Critics using 1MDB to sabotage economy, Najib tells US-Asean businessmen

Trump likely to visit China during Asia trip

Meeting with Trump 'positive and friendly', says Najib

MAS to purchase 16 Boeing airplanes, MOU inked

Rosmah wants Permata Pintar students in grad school

Unusual for Najib, Trump to meet while 1MDB under probe, says US official

View Comments