Malaysia is located at the heart of Southeast Asia.  Malaysia is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which covers a region of 10 countries with a combined population of over 662 million and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$3.2 trillion. U.S. exporters can expand their business opportunities by exploring regional opportunities across the other ASEAN economies, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for logistics services, information and communications technology (ICT), and medical travel presents opportunities for U.S. exporters.  Digitalization of information forms across major industrial sectors will help secure Malaysia’s role in the future global economy. The country aims to be a regional hub for digital and procurement-focused industries and an international destination for medical travel. The Malaysian government’s focus on enhancing healthcare is likewise driving demand for healthcare technology, medical devices, and digital health resources to ensure work-class quality healthcare service delivery.

Malaysia aspires to be a regional aerospace hub and an integral part of the global aerospace supply chain.  The nation plans to to this by focusing on aerospace digital technology, Industry 4.0, ecosystem, and human capital development. In the energy sector, Malaysia set a target for Renewable Energy (RE) to reach 70 percent of  installed capacity by 2050. Pursuant to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) “Climate Promise,” Malaysia’s global climate commitment is to unconditionally reduce its economy-wide carbon intensity (against GDP) by 45 percent by 2030.

Top Sectors for U.S. Exporters

Some of the top sectors in Malaysia for U.S. exporters that will be explored in more detail in this report include the following:

· Agricultural

· Aerospace and Defense

· Environmental Technology

· Healthcare

· Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

· Renewable Energy