Functions of MIDA: • to promote foreign and domestic investments in the
manufacturing and
services sectors • to undertake planning for
industrial development in
Malaysia • to recommend policies and strategies on industrial promotion and development to the Minister of International Trade and Industry • to evaluate applications for manufacturing licences and
expatriate posts; tax incentives for
manufacturing activities,
tourism,
R&D, training institutions and
software development; and on raw materials, components and machinery • to assist companies in the
implementation and operation of their projects, and offer assistance through direct consultation and consultation and co-operation with the relevant authorities at both the federal and state levels • to facilitate the exchange of information and co-ordination among institutions engaged in or connected with industrial development; • to further enhance MIDA's role of assisting investors, senior representatives from key agencies are stationed at MIDA's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to advise investors on government policies and procedures. These representatives include officials from the
Ministry of Human Resources,
Immigration Department, Royal Customs Malaysia, Department of Environment,
Tenaga Nasional Berhad and
Telekom Malaysia Berhad. In addition to its Headquarters, MIDA provides the following contact points for investors not based in
Kuala Lumpur, and overseas:
MIDA State Offices: •
Selangor •
Perak •
Pulau Pinang •
Kedah •
Terengganu •
Kelantan •
Pahang •
Johor •
Melaka •
Negeri Sembilan •
Sabah •
Sarawak MIDA Overseas Offices:
Asia and Asia Pacific •
Sydney,
Australia •
Guangzhou,
China •
Shanghai, China •
Mumbai,
India •
Osaka,
Japan •
Tokyo, Japan •
Seoul,
South Korea •
Taipei,
Taiwan •
Singapore America •
Chicago •
Houston •
Los Angeles •
New York •
San Jose Europe •
Paris,
France •
Frankfurt,
Germany •
Munich,
Germany •
Milan,
Italy •
Stockholm,
Sweden •
London,
UK Middle East •
Dubai,
UAE Incentives MIDA is able to offer various
incentives to attract foreign investment, including incentives for specific companies. Regionally, there are two levels of incentives: one for
Kuala Lumpur,
Johor Bahru, and
Penang, and another for the rest of the country. MIDA meets weekly on Thursdays to approve new investment applications, and proposed incentives; an official from the Finance Ministry sits in on the meetings to approve the proposed incentives on the spot. If the incentive cannot be approved immediately, it is passed to a higher official at the Ministry, who typically approves or rejects it within a week. ==Criticism==