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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is on track to achieve the targeted RM200 billion of investments for this year, after achieving RM123.3 billion total approved investments for the first half (1H) 2022, UOB Global Economics & Markets Research said.

The RM200 billion is slightly lower than UOB's forecast of more than RM204 billion.

UOB said as of August this year, there were 276 projects with proposed investments of RM25.1 billion within the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) pipeline.

Of the total, some 198 projects are from the services sector (RM13.7 billion) while the remaining 78 projects are from the manufacturing sector (RM11.4 billion).

"Our forecast is around pre-pandemic's five-year average level of RM204.5 billion," it said in a note today.

UOB said Malaysia's ongoing policy reforms, accelerated digitalisation and transition into endemicity were key catalysts for investments in the foreseeable future.

"Various bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and soon-to-be-ratified Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership as well as strategic geographical location will help to make Malaysia as the preferred investment destination in the region," it said.

UOB said besides that the country's National Investment Aspirations and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles would also draw more new investments into green sectors in the near term.

However, UOB said the lingering external headwinds including the rising risk of a global recession and tighter global monetary conditions were wildcards for the overall investment outlook ahead.

"This is in addition to the ongoing concerns surrounding labour shortages, supply of domestic skilled labour, and policy uncertainties.

"Further investment incentives, particularly to revive domestic private investments, may be announced in the coming budget that will be tabled on Oct 7," it added.

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/business/2022/09/828832/malaysia-path-achieving-rm200bil-investments-target-says-uob