Entrepreneurship in Malaysia
Malaysia remains an attractive venue for many foreign firms to enter. Although surrounded by controversy in 1999, the Malaysian government has continued to promote foreign investment.
Malaysia, a middle income country, transformed itself
from 1971 through the late 1990s from a producer of raw
materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Growth
is almost exclusively driven by exports, particularly
electronics. As a result, Malaysia was hit hard by the
global economic downturn and the slump in the Information
Technology (IT) sector in 2001. GDP in 2001 grew by only
0.3% due to a drop off in exports by approximately 11%.
However, the economy is expected to grow by 2% to 3% in
2002 as the world economy rebounds. This is due to an
economic package that has helped stimulate the economy;
therefore, lessening the effects of the recession. Kuala
Lumpur's healthy foreign exchange reserves and relatively
small external debt make it unlikely that Malaysia will
experience a crisis similar to the crisis of 1997. Nevertheless,
the economy remains vulnerable to a more prolonged downturn
in the US and Japan, which are top export destinations
and key sources of foreign investment.
Natural Resources include tin, petroleum, timber, copper,
iron ore, natural gas and bauxite. Industries include
rubber, oil palm processing, manufacture, electronics,
tin mining, logging and timber processing. Main agriculture
products include natural rubber, palm oil, rice, coconuts,
pepper and timber. Major exports are petroleum, electronic
equipment, palm oil, wood and wood products, rubber and
textiles. Major imports are machinery and equipment, chemicals,
and food. Singapore, Japan, and U.S.A include their major
trading partners.
There are many new policies and supporting mechanisms
that exist for entrepreneurs. The Malaysian Government,
in 1995, established a new department, the Ministry of
Entrepreneur Development. This move shows the importance
the government places on entrepreneurs and their confidence
that entrepreneur success in Malaysia will be a critical
success factor for the economy in the future. The Malaysian
economy grew an average of 4.7% during 1996-2000. Although
Malaysia has grown up drastically, their historical business
practices were to divide economic activity along racial
lines. Indian workers were kept separate from the Chinese
workers. This was a British-imposed practice that does
not hold today. Eventually, positive discrimination helped
the Malays gain equality with the rest of the races. As
workers were historically segregated, so was the attitude
toward business generation and entrepreneurial activity.
Malaysian
National News Agency or BERNAMA
Ministry
of International Trade and Industry
Malaysian Entrepreneur Assumes International Presidency of the Young Entrepreneur's organizations
Encouraging Factors for Enrepreneur in Franchising
STUDY MEETING ON CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme
Corporate Entrepreneurship among Manufacturing Firms Corporate
Business Law Handbook
Business Outlook
Business Profile
Visa Passport The Multimedia Super Corridor is Making Quantum Leaps into the Information Age
National Conference on Entrepreneurship - Opening Speech
New Policy Aims to Attract Investors
Student Entrepreneur Manifesto
Economic Performance in Malaysia
Strengthening Entrepreneurship in Malaysia - A Paper
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Quick Facts:
Population: 25,715,819
GDP: $397.5 Billion ('08)
GDP Growth Rate: 5.5% ('08)
GDP per Capita: $15,700
Government: Constitutional Monarchy
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