Foreign Direct Investment

Global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in 2021 were USD 1.58 trillion, up 64 per cent from the exceptionally low level in 2020. The recovery showed significant rebound momentum, with booming merger and acquisition (M&A) markets and rapid growth in international project finance because of loose financing conditions and major infrastructure stimulus packages. However, the global environment for international business and cross-border investment changed dramatically in 2022. The war in Ukraine – on top of the lingering effects of the pandemic – is causing a triple food, fuel and finance crisis in many countries around the world. Investor uncertainty could put significant downward pressure on global FDI in 2022. The 2021 growth momentum is unlikely to be sustained. Indeed, world flows in the second quarter of 2022, the latest data available, were down 31% from the first quarter and 7% less than the quarterly average of 2021 (UNCTAD Global Investment Trends Monitor, October 2022). The negative trend reflects a shift in investor sentiment due to the food, fuel and finance crises around the world, the Ukraine war, rising inflation and interest rates, and fears of a coming recession. Expectations for the full year are for a marked slowdown. In developing Asia, despite successive waves of COVID-19, FDI rose to an all-time high for the third consecutive year, reaching $619 billion. Asia is the largest recipient region, accounting for 40 per cent of global FDI. However, inflows remain highly concentrated; six economies account for more than 80 per cent of FDI to the region (UNCTAD, October 2022).

According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2022, FDI inflows declined 55% to USD 3.16 billion in 2020 before reaching 11.62 billion in 2021. The FDI stock was about USD 174 billion in 2020 and USD 187.37 billion in 2021. Multinationals in the M&A sector, such as those in the health and mining sectors (e.g. the acquisition of a stake in IHH Healthcare by Mitsui & Co, Japan and in Seb Upstream by OMV, Austria) have sustained the level of investment. The decrease in FDI inflows was driven by lower equity and investment fund shares and higher loans extended to overseas affiliates. Services and manufacturing sectors were the main contributors to FDI flows in 2020, followed by Mining & quarrying. Investment in the Services sector was particularly in financial and utilities, while Manufacturing was largely in the electricity, transport equipment and other manufacturing subsectors. The main investors in terms of FDI flows are Singapore, Thailand and China.

Malaysia’s net FDI inflows reached 10.9 billion USD in 2021, increasing 2.6 times from the 2020 figure. This is a new record compared to the previous record of 10.7 billion USD in 2016. Investment from countries in Asia are the biggest contributor to this growth, with a total of 5.1 billion USD invested, making up 46.7% of total investments. Among the Asian countries, Singapore, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Mainland are the top five investors. It was followed by the U.S, which invested 4.2 billion USD. Europe ranked third with 1.3 billion USD, with the UK, Netherlands and Austria as the largest investing countries.The sector receiving the most investments and that contributed to the growth in 2021 was manufacturing, with a total increasing from which had been severely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Transport equipment, and other equipment, followed by mineral and metal products, saw particular popularity, with 60% of the manufacturing investment going into these sectors. Manufacturing is gaining increasing interest from FDI investors, as its contribution to total FDI has become dominant since 2020, making up 53% and 61% of total net FDI inflows in 2020 and 2021 respectively (Asia Perspectives, 2022).

Despite a difficult situation in 2020, Malaysia continues to be an attractive investment destination amid rising trade tensions across the world. The authorities seek to position Malaysia as a gateway to the ASEAN market by offering various incentives to foreign companies, notably the status of pioneer company and tax reductions associated with investments. The country benefits from a high-skilled and English-speaking workforce. However, the government maintains a large discretionary power for authorising investment projects and uses it to obtain the maximum benefits from foreign participation and by demanding agreements that are advantageous in matters of transferring technologies or creating joint ventures.

The latest United NationAsia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends Report provides additional information on FDI in Malaysia and Asia-Pacific in 2022 and 2023.