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KUALA LUMPUR (July 18): The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti), through the efforts of the Digital Investment Office, recorded approved foreign investments in digital-related projects worth RM127 billion between 2021 and March 2024.

Meanwhile, domestic investments accounted for RM34.9 billion of total approved investments amounting to RM161.9 billion in digital-related projects that were approved under the National Committee on Investment during the period, the ministry said. 

“The investments approved were mainly in the data centre, cloud computing, data hosting, big data analytics and artificial intelligence sectors,” it said in a written reply posted on the Parliament website on Wednesday.

The ministry was responding to a query from Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (Pakatan Harapan-Ledang), who wanted to know the benefits of foreign direct investment in the digital sector for the nation.

Miti replied that investments secured in the digital sector will bring socio-economic benefits, including the potential creation of 49,108 skilled and high-paying job opportunities, such as data engineers, data scientists, big data analysts, cybersecurity engineers and information technology engineers.

It said the government stresses on more inclusive digital infrastructure investments at local and regional levels, the availability of high-speed internet networks, and technological solutions to generate low latency for data.

On the main economic spillover effect of these strategic digital investments, Miti cited acceleration of digital transformation for micro, small and medium enterprises, including start-ups, which make up 97% of the country’s business establishments, contributing 48% of jobs and 38% of economic growth.

In addition, the investments facilitate the reorganisation of industrial clusters and value chains powered by digital technology towards the creation of 3,000 smart factories by 2030, as outlined under the New Industrial Master Plan, as well as providing access to digital technology opportunities and usage and spurring industrial revolution in various economic sectors, said Miti.

Source: https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/719479