Investment opportunities in the rubber-based industry during the Fourth Malaysia Plan

Abstract

Under the Fourth Malaysia Plan (FMP), the manufacturing sector is expected to continue to play the leading role to stimulate industrial growth, albeit at a lower rate of 11% per annum as compared with 12.5% achieved during the past decade. Its share in GDP is projected to rise from 20.5% in 1980 to 23.9% by the end of the FMP period in 1985. The source of growth of the manufacturing sector will come from export expansion and import substitution. Among the industries which are projected to achieve growth rates greater than the average rate for the manufacturing sector are resource-based, petroleum products, electrical machinery, and paper and printing. It is further envisaged that the value of export of manufactured products will grow from $7,158 million in 1980 to $19,823m in 1985. Manufacturing employment will increase with the creation of 267,000 new jobs to reach 1,070,000 jobs in 1985, thus accounting for 18% of total national employment.