MALAYSIA’S international investment position (IIP) recorded a higher net asset position of RM57.3 billion in Q2, from RM27.1 billion in the previous quarter, said the Statistics Department.

In a statement today, it said the IIP performance in Q2 was mainly contributed by direct investment (31.8%) and portfolio investment (24.3%).

It added international reserves stood at RM443 billion in Q2 against RM440 billion in the preceding quarter.

Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said foreign direct investment (FDI) in Q2 slowed to RM2.2 billion from RM6.4 billion in the previous quarter due to the lower investment in the manufacturing sector.

“The FDI in this quarter was primarily from the Netherlands, British Virgin Islands and Singapore in mining and quarrying, financial and utilities.”

He added direct investment abroad expanded to RM3.5 billion in the period under review with the main destinations being Indonesia, Canada and the UK and channelled to the financial, manufacturing, information and communications sectors. – Bernama, August 14, 2020.