ID :
82288
Tue, 09/29/2009 - 16:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/82288
The shortlink copeid
M'SIA CAN RETURN TO RADAR OF FOREIGN INVESTORS WITH FURTHER LIBERALISATION MOVES
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia can return to the radar of foreign investors with further liberalisation moves and by leveraging on its competitive advantages, says an economist.
Dr Jim Walker, the founder and managing director of Asianomics Ltd, an
economic research and consultancy company said the recent liberalisation moves
by the Malaysian government had certainly sped up the process.
"It is a good move that will certainly help bring foreign investment back
into the market," he told reporters after a session at the Ninth Forbes Global
CEO Conference here Tuesday.
Earlier this year, Malaysia liberalised about 27 sub-sectors in services
while relaxing some foreign investment rules.
Walker, who has been actively involved in surveys of fund managers in
Asia, was a panellist at a session, "Game Change: Taking Stock Of A
New Landscape".
The session largely touched on changes around the world, created by
the global economic crisis.
He said Malaysia needs to enhance its playing field by leveraging on
competitive advantages such as good quality labour resources as well as its
expertise in high technology manufacturing and semi-conductors.
"If you look back, Malaysia used to be the second biggest equity market in
Asia and foreign investors heavily invested in various areas of interest.
"But, I can't remember people asking about Malaysia for the past two
years, which means the country is still far away from the market in terms of
investments," he explained.
He was responding to a question on how Malaysia had fared in terms of the
government or central bank intervening in handling the financial crisis.
Walker also said it would be tough for Bank Negara (Malaysia's Central
Bank)to actually offset the entire impact of the global crisis but what it could
do is absorb it as best possible, together with other regional central banks.
"Malaysia is a very open economy, so the external environment is extremely
important," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Dr Jim Walker, the founder and managing director of Asianomics Ltd, an
economic research and consultancy company said the recent liberalisation moves
by the Malaysian government had certainly sped up the process.
"It is a good move that will certainly help bring foreign investment back
into the market," he told reporters after a session at the Ninth Forbes Global
CEO Conference here Tuesday.
Earlier this year, Malaysia liberalised about 27 sub-sectors in services
while relaxing some foreign investment rules.
Walker, who has been actively involved in surveys of fund managers in
Asia, was a panellist at a session, "Game Change: Taking Stock Of A
New Landscape".
The session largely touched on changes around the world, created by
the global economic crisis.
He said Malaysia needs to enhance its playing field by leveraging on
competitive advantages such as good quality labour resources as well as its
expertise in high technology manufacturing and semi-conductors.
"If you look back, Malaysia used to be the second biggest equity market in
Asia and foreign investors heavily invested in various areas of interest.
"But, I can't remember people asking about Malaysia for the past two
years, which means the country is still far away from the market in terms of
investments," he explained.
He was responding to a question on how Malaysia had fared in terms of the
government or central bank intervening in handling the financial crisis.
Walker also said it would be tough for Bank Negara (Malaysia's Central
Bank)to actually offset the entire impact of the global crisis but what it could
do is absorb it as best possible, together with other regional central banks.
"Malaysia is a very open economy, so the external environment is extremely
important," he added.
-- BERNAMA
