USEFUL BUSINESS INFORMATION ON MALAYSIA

1. Country Brief:

A. Introduction - Malaysia is one of the most pleasant, hassle-free countries to visit in Southeast Asia. It's buoyant and wealthy, and has moved towards a pluralist culture based on a vibrant and interesting fusion of Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous cultures and customs.

Malaysia's love of Western-style industrialisation is abundantly clear in its big cities. Aside from the gleaming glass towers of the 21st Century, though, Malaysia boasts some of the most superb beaches, mountains and national parks in Asia

B. Climate - Malaysia has a tropical, humid climate with temperatures averaging 86°F (30°C), though it is cooler in the highland areas. The major change in seasons is marked by the arrival of the monsoons that bring with heavy downpours on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, the northeastern part of Sabah and the western end of Sarawak (from November to February). Boat trips to the islands do not run during the height of the monsoon. The best time to visit Malaysia is between April and October.

C. Geographical Area - 329,847 km², 127,355 sq mi 

D. Language - Bahasa Melayu (Malay, official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; several indigenous languages (including Iban, Kadazan) in East Malaysia

E. Currency With Exchange Rate - Malaysia Ringgits (MYR)

1.00 MYR = 0.285434 USD

F. Population – Jun 2007 Estimate 27,122,000

G. Major Cities - Kuala Lumpur, Kelang, Johor Bharu

2. Transportation:

A. Railway - total: 2,418 km (2002)

B. Road - Total: 65,877 km, Paved: 49,935 km (including 1,192 km of expressways), Unpaved: 15,942 km (1999).

C. Airports - 114 (2002).

D. Waterways - 7,296 km (Peninsular Malaysia 3,209 km, Sabah 1,569 km, Sarawak 2,518 km)

E. Sea ports - Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuantan, Kuching, Kudat, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, Pasir Gudang, Penang, Port Dickson, Port Kelang, Sandakan, Sibu, Tanjung Berhala, Tanjung Kidurong, Tawau

3. Economy:

A. Major Manufacturing:

B. Major Export - $147.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

C. Major Import - $118.7 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

D. Major Industry - Peninsular Malaysia—rubber and oil-palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah—logging, petroleum production; Sarawak—agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging.

E. Trade balance:

4. Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Trade shows and Exhibitions in Malaysia: