The competitive of Malaysia versus Thailand in terms of attracting FDI.

Promotional efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) have become the focal point of competition among developed and developing countries (The World Bank Group 2005). Several trends are reinforcing traditional impulses for foreign direct investment, such as access to natural resources, markets, and low-cost labor. Malaysia has been often dubbed the 'lucky country' because of its rich mineral resources, including natural rubber, cocoa, crude oil and natural gas. However, it has not rested on its laurels …

…Tab/>Thailand Indicator<Tab/>1981-86<Tab/>1987-91<Tab/>1981-86<Tab/>1987-91 Average annual GDP growth (percent) Ratio of gross domestic investment to GDP (average percentage) Merchandise exports, end-year (billions of dollars) Average annual growth of exports (percent) Average annual FDI flows (millions of dollars) 4.5 32.9 13.8 9.1 984 8.4 29.3 34.3 13.2 1,843<Tab/> 5.5 24.3 8.8 11.2 274<Tab/> 10.7 32.2 28.3 19.9 1,428a Source: (ESCAP 1995)