Malaysia approves 107 new digital firms with RM13.1bil investments in Q1

KUALA LUMPUR: The government approved 107 new companies under the Malaysia Digital (MD) framework in the first quarter of 2025, with a combined investment value of RM13.1 billion.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo, speaking at the UK-Malaysia Digital Gateway Forum in London, said the investments are expected to generate 4,199 new jobs over the next five years.
He noted that the sectoral breakdown of these approvals reflects Malaysia's diverse and future-focused digital economy.
Global business services led with 49 companies, projecting a revenue of RM6.8 billion, followed by infotech with 51 companies, bringing in an estimated RM1.9 billion in revenue and the digital creative content sector saw seven companies approved, with a projected revenue of RM500 million.
The top three activity areas among these MD-approved companies were data centre and cloud services (28 companies); artificial intelligence (AI) (23 companies) and global business services (15 companies).
"These figures are a clear indication of Malaysia's commitment to becoming a thriving, future-ready digital hub that is open to international partnerships and poised for high-value, sustainable growth, he said in a statement.
Gobind added that the country's ibrant digital ecosystem is underpinned by recent regulatory reforms, including the Cyber Security Act 2024, Data Sharing Act 2024 and the establishment of the National AI Office (NAIO), as well as cutting-edge infrastructure and a robust talent pipeline.
Gobind is in London for the London Tech Week, which serves as a platform for Malaysia to gather insights and forge partnerships in emerging fields such as AI governance, smart cities and digital sustainability.
The forum, co-organised by the Malaysian Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC) and the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC), brought together over 80 UK-based technology companies and 23 Malaysian firms, facilitating direct engagement and partnership opportunities.
As part of the event's objectives, the Digital Ministry aims to identify UK tech companies that are keen to expand in Southeast Asia.
Gobind invited United Kingdom (UK) technology businesses to collaborate in shaping a dynamic digital future in the country.
He underscored Malaysia's position as a strategic regional hub for innovation, digital investment and sustainable technology advancement.
"Malaysia is open for innovation. Our vision is anchored on three critical enablers - world-class infrastructure, trusted data governance and institutional trust.
"These are the foundations that make Malaysia a prime destination for high-value tech investment in the region," he said.
The minister also extended an invitation to UK partners to join upcoming flagship events including the Asean Malaysia AI Summit in August 2025 and the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur in September 2025.

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