RM12.79 BLN INVESTMENTS AT OSAKA EXPO SIGNAL JAPANESE CONFIDENCE IN MALAYSIA’S GREEN, SEMICON SECTORS -- MIDA

By Niam Seet Wei

OSAKA, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Investment Development Authority’s (MIDA) success in attracting RM12.79 billion in potential investments from Japanese companies at Expo 2025 Osaka signals a strong vote of confidence in Malaysia’s industrial ecosystem, especially in green technology, semiconductors and medical devices sectors.

Chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said the fruitful results were reaped through 43 targeted business engagements and five investment seminars held over the past six months in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe.

Speaking on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka recently, Sikh Shamsul told Bernama that MIDA's targeted missions engaged a range of Japanese companies across key sectors such as semiconductors and electronics, green and renewable energy, chemicals and advanced manufacturing, logistics as well as medical devices.

“Discussions centred on green technology adoption, smart factory development and Malaysia's role in diversified supply networks,” he added.

MIDA also facilitated direct meetings between Malaysian suppliers and Japanese manufacturers, particularly in emerging sectors like green hydrogen technology, electric vehicle components and carbon capture technologies throughout the expo.

MIDA Bridges Japanese Supply Chain Needs with Malaysian Capabilities

Sikh Shamsul said MIDA acts as a single point of contact for companies seeking to diversify their supply chains, helping them manage what would otherwise be significant coordination costs.

To streamline market entry, he said MIDA also provides manufacturing licence assistance and manages incentive applications, reducing time from initial interest to operational readiness.

MIDA also works through Japan's Asia Zero Emission Community initiative to connect Malaysian companies with Japanese companies on renewable energy, carbon capture and green hydrogen ventures.

To make these partnerships viable, Malaysia offers incentives including the Green Investment Tax Allowances (GITA) and the Green Income Tax Exemptions (GITE).

MIDA’s Future Investment Missions and Malaysia- Japan Industrial Collaboration Post-Expo

Sikh Shamsul said as Japanese firms increasingly pursue low-carbon and renewable energy partnerships, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) and MIDA have leveraged the Expo to promote concrete environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks, green incentives and the green financing ecosystem.

“The strong Japanese interest in Malaysia's green policies, clean energy infrastructure, green hydrogen projects and circular economy initiatives confirms that environmental credentials now function as essential investment criteria rather than peripheral considerations.

“MIDA will foreground these capabilities in future engagements, recognising that sustainability compliance represents a competitive advantage in attracting high-value manufacturing and technology partnerships,” he added.

Expo 2025 Osaka ran from April 13 to Oct 13, 2025. The Malaysia Pavilion, themed "Weaving a Future in Harmony", spanned 2,393.27 square metres across three floors.

-- BERNAMA