Malaysia Retains 9th Spot Globally for High-Tech Exports in 2023

Malaysia successfully maintained its position as the ninth-largest exporter of high-technology goods among 143 countries in 2023, marking its highest achievement in the past decade.

Strong Growth in High-Tech Exports

According to Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad, Secretary General of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti):

Malaysia's high-tech exports rose by US$2 billion (RM8.75 billion), reaching a total of US$127 billion in 2023.

High-tech goods accounted for 58.69% of the country's total manufacturing exports, an increase from 52.48% in 2022.

The country also recorded its highest trade surplus in a decade, totaling US$51.5 billion.

Measuring High-Tech Performance

Hasnol highlighted that measuring high-tech exports requires adherence to strict international standards, such as those set by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank.

The Malaysia Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) has long been responsible for tracking and calculating Malaysia's high-tech export performance and will continue to oversee this role.

The announcement was made during the launch of the Malaysia High Technology Performance Report 2023, attended by:

Tan Sri Ahmad Tajuddin Ali, MIGHT Co-Chair (Industry)

Tan Sri Zakri Abdul Hamid, MIGHT Co-Chair (Government)

Rushdi Abdul Rahim, President and CEO of MIGHT

Commitment to Innovation and Competitiveness

Hasnol reiterated Mosti's dedication to enhancing the national innovation ecosystem, aiming to ensure Malaysia remains competitive across all sectors, particularly in high-tech industries.

He also pointed out that many global institutions use high-tech export performance as a benchmark for assessing a nation's innovation capacity and competitiveness.

Key Contributors and Future Opportunities

Rushdi Abdul Rahim noted that:

The telecommunications electronics product group continued to dominate, contributing US$36 billion, or 80.58% of Malaysia's total high-tech exports across nine subgroups.

However, there is strong growth potential in other sectors, such as Scientific equipment, Office machinery, Electrical machinery, Aerospace

He stressed that success in these areas will require:

A robust innovation ecosystem

Effective market penetration strategies

Rushdi also emphasized that beyond driving economic growth, developing a dynamic innovation environment is critical for achieving technological sovereignty, ensuring Malaysia is not just a consumer but a master of strategic technologies.