KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign-linked companies operating in Malaysia contributed 17.1 per cent to the national economy in 2024, according to the Statistics Department.

In its Statistics on Foreign Affiliates in Malaysia 2024 report, the department said the value added by these companies rose 1.44 per cent to RM323.1 billion in 2024 from RM318.5 billion a year earlier.

Compared with 2020 when economic activity was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the value added grew by 34.1 per cent from RM241 billion.

The number of foreign-linked companies operating in Malaysia climbed four per cent to 3,230 in 2024 from 3,101 in 2023, while their workforce grew to 983,512 employees from 945,436.