Approved manufacturing investment however had yet to recover to pre-crisis levels, despite growing 19 per cent to RM56.1 billion in 2011, as it was still well below the RM62.8 billion recorded in 2008.
Total approved investment in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors last year grew 40.7 per cent to RM148.6 billion and domestic investments exceeded FDI by comprising 55.4 per cent of the total.
Sarawak attracted the highest amount of approved investments at RM14.35 billion, followed by Penang (14.04 billion), Sabah (RM13.68 billion) and Selangor (RM13.47 billion).
Manufacturing remained the largest contributor to FDI at RM16.5 billion, followed by services (RM9 billion) and mining (RM7.3 billion).
Japan was the top source of approved manufacturing FDI at RM10.1 billion, followed by Korea (RM5.1 billion), US (2.5 billion), Singapore (2.47 billion) and Saudi Arabia (2.17 billion).
Penang attracted the highest levels of approved manufacturing investment at RM9.1 billion, followed by Selangor (RM8.74 billion), Sarawak (RM8.45 billion) and Kedah (RM6.13 billion).
Mustapa said that the estimated figure for realised private investment of RM94 billion for last year had also exceeded the target of RM83 billion.
The minister said that he expects the levels of approved investment for 2012 to be about the same as last year.
“We think we can achieve the same numbers and can maintain the 2011 figure for 2012 given the uncertain global economy,” he said.
Mustapa said that from 2007-2011, 76.4 per cent of approved investment projects have been implemented.
He also said that 338,555 jobs were created during the same period of which 49 per cent were in the skilled worker category and 13 per cent were from the technical and supervisory category.
Asked about the move by Germany’s Robert Bosch to put its solar panel manufacturing plant in Penang on hold earlier this month, Mustapa said that the decision was made in light of the slump in solar panel prices as well as demand following the withdrawal of support of solar power in some European countries.
He added however that Bosch remained committed to invest in the plant at a later date.
“It’s just a temporary setback,” he said.
