SHAH ALAM, Nov 20 — Selangor has set an ambitious goal to position itself as Asean’s leading hub for the global business services (GBS) sector, the State Legislative Assembly heard today.
State executive councillor for investment, trade, and mobility Ng Sze Han said the rising number of new GBS companies, approved investments, and job opportunities in Selangor demonstrates the state’s capability to achieve this goal.
"International GBS companies have shown strong confidence to invest in Selangor, driven by the state’s robust ecosystem, supportive infrastructure, and strategic position as a preferred investment location," he said, responding to a question from Balakong state assemblyman Ong Chun Wei.
GBS is a business model in which companies centralise services, including finance, human resources, IT, and customer support, to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
Ng added that between 2020 and 2024, Selangor recorded RM8.39 billion in GBS investments, involving 116 companies and creating 13,582 job opportunities.
“In 2020, only eight new GBS companies were established in Selangor, with approved investments amounting to RM400 million and 716 new job openings. But by 2024, the number of new firms had risen to 63, with investments surging to RM4.87 billion and 7,713 new jobs created.
“This growth clearly reflects Selangor’s capacity to position itself as the leading GBS hub in Malaysia and Asean,” he said.
The state government remains committed to strengthening the growth of the GBS sector as one of Selangor’s key economic drivers, with its participation in the GBS Asean Summit 2025 serving as an important platform to enhance strategic ties between the government and industry players.
Ng noted that the state government will continue to support and facilitate the industry, including by providing a conducive investment ecosystem, reducing administrative barriers, and fostering talent development.
Meanwhile, on Selangor’s stance regarding the United States’ (US) reciprocal tariff on Malaysia, the councillor said the impact is not significant as Malaysia is competing on a level playing field with most Asean countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, which were also subjected to tariff rates of around 19 per cent.
"If we are on the same level playing field, it means our costs will not increase. The cost of exporting our goods to the US will be the same as for other countries. That is the most important point,” he said.
