KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 – Malaysia has climbed 11 spots to 23rd place in the 2025 World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) by the Switzerland-based Institute for Management Development (IMD), marking its strongest performance since 2020.
The leap from last year’s 34th position reflects Malaysia’s growing economic momentum and ongoing reforms under the MADANI Economic Framework, which aims to place the nation among the top 12 most competitive economies globally by 2033.
The improved ranking was driven by notable gains in Economic Performance (up to 4th place), Government Efficiency, and Business Efficiency, each seeing marked advancements. Particularly impressive was the rise in the International Trade sub-factor, which jumped 11 places to 6th globally, boosted by robust export growth, diversified markets, and a surge in tourism receipts.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) credited this achievement to strategic coordination through the National Competitiveness Committee and the implementation of over 1,000 bureaucratic reform initiatives led by the Special Taskforce on Agency Reform (STAR).
MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz emphasized that this progress reflects the government’s firm commitment to structural reforms, strengthening Malaysia’s appeal as a top investment destination.
