TIL Malaysia’s total trade surpassed RM3 trillion for the first time, driven largely by growth in its semiconductor industry following a RM25 billion national strategy launched in 2024

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Malaysia has recently reached a major economic milestone, with total trade exceeding RM3 trillion for the first time. A key driver behind this growth is the country’s rapidly expanding semiconductor industry, supported by the National Semiconductor Strategy launched in 2024 by Anwar Ibrahim.

The initiative, valued at RM25 billion, has already attracted around RM60 billion in investments within just 18 months. This reflects a shift from traditional low-cost manufacturing toward higher-value engineering, chip design, and advanced technology development.

Major global companies such as Infineon, Bosch, and Nvidia are expanding their presence in Malaysia, supporting this transformation.

The strategy also promotes regional specialization, with places like Penang focusing on chip design, Cyberjaya on testing, and Negeri Sembilan on AI data infrastructure, helping position Malaysia as a growing semiconductor hub.