KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is well-positioned to emerge as a regional logistics hub, given its strategic location between two of Asia’s most important maritime routes – the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea.
National Logistics Centre of Malaysia director Norhasliza Mat Salleh said Malaysia’s strategic location, ample land availability and well-developed infrastructure are among its key strengths in attracting multinational corporations to establish their regional logistics centres in the country.
“As the global logistics industry becomes increasingly complex and sophisticated, demand for logistics services across various sectors is growing.
“Companies are looking for service providers that can offer comprehensive logistics solutions, including end-to-end services, which Malaysia is increasingly well-positioned to provide.
“This trend is driven by rising global trade activity and the continued globalisation of businesses, supported by the removal of trade barriers and stronger trade relations,” she told delegates at the Asean Transport Connectivity Forum 2026, which ran concurrently with Transport Expo Asia 2026 recently.
In her presentation entitled “Malaysia As Preferred Asean Logistics Hub”, Norhasliza said the importance of the logistics industry was recognised when the government launched the logistics-focused master plan in 2015, followed by the National Transport Policy in 2019.
The policy aims to increase the logistics services sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) to 9% and beyond while the master plan provides strategic direction for developing the logistics industry and aims to enhance its productivity and competitiveness.
Malaysia aspires to become the region’s preferred gateway for logistics activities.
Norhasliza said that amid trade tensions between China and the United States, the aftermath of the global pandemic and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, particularly in the Middle East, many companies are restructuring their global operations and relocating activities to regions less exposed to disruptions.
“Malaysia sees this as a significant opportunity to position itself as a regional logistics hub, given its strategic location at the heart of Asean. Over the past year, Malaysia has attracted several multinational companies to establish their regional operations here,” she added.
Norhasliza said spillover benefits from these investments have encouraged the government to further strengthen its strategic initiatives through policy development, technology adoption and infrastructure investment.
These efforts aim to create a robust business ecosystem, strengthen trade relations and attract more companies to establish their regional hubs in Malaysia, positioning the country as a preferred regional logistics hub.
“Malaysia has also introduced various initiatives to strengthen its position as a regional logistics gateway. These include the National E-Commerce Strategic Roadmap, launched in 2016, which aims to accelerate the growth of e-commerce and position Malaysia as a key regional e-commerce hub,” Norhasliza said.
In line with this objective, she said, the government established the Digital Free Trade Zone in 2017 to facilitate cross-border e-commerce and help local businesses export their goods more efficiently.
The initiative was developed in collaboration with Alibaba to support digital trade and connect Malaysian businesses with international markets.
Another major initiative is the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a large-scale infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity and strengthening Malaysia’s logistics capabilities to support international trade.
Norhasliza said, “These initiatives are expected to enhance Malaysia’s position as a preferred regional logistics hub.
“The ECRL will also improve connectivity between the country’s east and west coasts, potentially strengthening links to regional and international trade networks.
“Separately, the proposed Maritime Silk Road initiative aims to improve infrastructure connectivity across Southeast Asia and beyond, including links to the Indian Ocean and East Africa.
“As these initiatives progress, Malaysia is expected to benefit from expanded trade connections and greater access to regional and global markets.”
Malaysia has also embarked on the digitalisation of maritime operations through the Malaysia Maritime Single Window 1.0 (MMSW 1.0), which is aimed at improving efficiency, transparency and coordination in international maritime trade, particularly in ship clearance processes.
The system is now used nationwide, enabling the digital submission and processing of ship clearance documents while facilitating coordination among relevant government agencies.
“Building on the success of MMSW 1.0, Malaysia is expanding digitalisation beyond ship clearance and traditional maritime operations through MMSW 2.0. The upgraded platform aims to integrate Malaysian ports with the broader logistics ecosystem, including shipping companies, terminal operators, hauliers and container depots.
“It is expected to improve coordination of container movements, facilitate data sharing and provide end-to-end visibility across the logistics chain.
“Ultimately, the goal is to move beyond the digitalisation of ship clearance towards a more connected, efficient and data-driven national logistics system,“ Norhasliza said.
