Bursa Malaysia Berhad hosted the Invest Malaysia 2024 (IM2024) event today in Hong Kong, marking the latest in the Exchange's series for this year. The event was officiated by Malaysia's Minister of International Trade & Industry (MITI), Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz who delivered the keynote address focusing on Malaysia's industrial reform policies.
During his address, Tengku Zafrul outlined key initiatives, including the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). He specifically highlighted the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Malaysia's semiconductor sector and the Green Investment Strategy (GIS) to attract sustainability-themed investments.
The IM2024 event in Hong Kong is the third major financial city in Bursa Malaysia's engagement sessions with equity investors across the region. The FBM KLCI has seen a 12.7% increase year-to-date as of September 11, 2024, driven by strong macroeconomic indicators such as GDP growth and a robust currency.
In his remarks, Tengku Zafrul emphasised the importance of clarity in policies and their implementation for attracting investments. "Our efforts on both fronts appear to have paid off, judging from the 18% increase in approved investments for the first half of 2024, and the 12.7% rise in our equities market," he stated. He noted that Malaysia is becoming a preferred destination for high-quality investments under the MADANI economy framework.
IM2024 focused on investment opportunities within the NSS and GIS, both designed to enhance Malaysia's long-term industrial resilience and sustainability while positioning the country as a leader in green manufacturing and technology. The Minister also addressed the importance of improving the ease of doing business and public-private collaboration in developing a skilled industrial talent pipeline.
Following the keynote address, Tengku Zafrul participated in a fireside chat moderated by Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, CEO of Bursa Malaysia. They discussed the NSS roadmap, which outlines a three-phase approach for Malaysia's semiconductor industry over the next decade, aiming to attract RM500 billion in investments and train 60,000 high-skilled engineers.
Tengku Zafrul reiterated, "Invest Malaysia continues to be one of the best platforms to effectively communicate our policies and updates to make Malaysia the preferred investment destination."
Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift expressed his honor in having the Minister and key Malaysian public listed companies at the event, highlighting the collaborative approach between the government and Corporate Malaysia. He noted that the next Invest Malaysia event will take place in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, on September 26, 2024, to focus on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone propositions.
IM2024 attracted over 350 investors, including fixed income, equity, and private equity investors, with combined assets under management exceeding USD 3 trillion (approximately RM 13 trillion).