KUALA LUMPUR: The World Bank raised Malaysia’s economic growth forecast for 2026 to 4.4% from 4.1%, citing resilient domestic demand despite escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. According to the Harvard Atlas Economic Complexity, Malaysia’s Economic Com-plexity Index ranking has fallen from its 2021 peak of 23rd placing to 32nd, which is a level similar to 2016. “Nonetheless, at current income levels, Malaysia’s economic complexity is associated with projected annual growth of around 4.5% through 2034, broadly aligned with the lower-bound target under the 13th Malaysia Plan. “Against this backdrop, renewed progress in export diversification and upgrading will be critical to rebuilding economic complexity and supporting growth beyond baseline projections,” it said. Apurva said economic complexity is an important gauge of being able to drive long term growth.

Source: The Star April 10, 2026 10:05 UTC