Economy

Electrical and electronic goods, manufactured goods, textiles, clothing and footwear, palm oil, natural gas, petroleum, timber and rubber are the main exports. Malaysia's main trading partners are the United States, Singapore and Japan. Tourism also ranks among the top three conrtibuters to the economy.

Despite the economic crisis that began in 1997, the unemployment rate is relatively low. The stabilasation of the ringgit and stimulation of domestic demand are expected to help resuscitate the economy. The government's ambitious information technology-based Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) project, is also viewed as an important springboard in helping the country to achieve developed nation status by 2020.