The Business End

A S A N E P I C E NT R E of world trade centuries ago, Melaka was key to the growth of the spice and textile industries, with Indian, Arab and European merchants all regularly utilising the Port of Melaka.

Today, the region still relies heavily on its manufacturing and trade from an economic perspective, known as a key national exporter of rubber. Now a material that is used widely around the world, the Malaccan Chinese were the first to undertake large scale commercial rubber production, having done so since the turn of the 20th century.

As a core part of Malaysia’s economic backbone, the government has continued to promote Melaka as a hub for investment, evident in that it received RM22 billion in investment from multinational companies into its manufacturing sector last year – a record for the state.

Aside from its manufacturing practices, the country is increasingly enjoying successes from its growing tourism trade, evident in the rise in the number of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops that have continued to sprout up in recent years.

Further, 2017 saw a record 16.7 million tourists visiting the region, making it the second most visited place in Malaysia after the capital city, Kuala Lumpur.