FDI can help offset slowdown

from Business Times

As for Malaysia, he said claims by European banks "were fairly small", accounting for about 41 per cent of total foreign claims as at end of June 2011. This compares with Singapore at 55 per cent, Philippines at 47 per cent and Indonesia at 40 per cent. Meanwhile, RAM Holdings group chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the improved FDI would help offset any possible global economic slowdown expected next year. He said sectors with strong growth potential like the services, oil and gas, and energy and environment-related sectors would attract foreign investments. The manufacturing sector would benefit from moving up the value chain and is likely to pull in foreign investors in areas, like solar power panel manufacturing, bio-medical and bio-technology.