Overview

Malaysia has one of the world's most trade-dependent economies with trade reaching 165% of annual GDP according to the World Trade Organization. The Malaysian government values foreign investment as a powerful force for the continued economic development of the country, but is hampered by restrictions in some sectors and an at times burdensome regulatory regime. However, the government continues to liberalize and in some cases remove investment restrictions. In 2009, Malaysia removed its former Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) investment guidelines, enabling transactions for acquisitions of interests, mergers, and takeovers of local companies by domestic or foreign parties without FIC approval. While the FIC itself still exists, it now only reviews the purchase by foreigners of commercial properties valued greater than at MYR 20 million (approximately USD 6.5 million) from the bumiputera (ethnic Malays and other indigenous ethnicities in Malaysia).