20100505 0955 Malaysian Economic News.

Exports surged by 36.4% yoy to RM59.4bn, a new high in March (18.4% in Feb). Imports expanded by 45.3% to RM45.1bn (27.9% in Feb), resulting in a trade surplus of RM14.4bn (RM11.7bn in Feb). Ytd, exports grew by 30.8% while imports rose 35.1%, resulting in a trade surplus of RM39.0bn. Economists had projected the exports and imports would increase by 22.4% and 32.1% for March. (Bernama) 

Malaysia entered the top 10 list of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in terms of tourist arrivals for 2009, at ninth place (11th in 2008). Tourism brought in about RM52bn to the nation's coffers last year from a total of 23.65m tourist arrivals. For 2010, the target is RM54bn in receipts from 24m visitor arrivals. (Bernama)

The tariff structure for the feed-in-tariff (FiT) scheme for renewable energy is still in the process of finalisation, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.

• For solar photovoltaic, the government was looking at a tariff rate of between RM1.25 and RM1.75 sen per kilowatt hour (kWh) for 21 years, biomass and biogas (24-35 sen per kWh for 16 years), solid waste and sewage (30-46 sen for 21 years) and mini-hydro (23-24 sen per kWh for 21 years). 
• He said the government would table the FiT Bill during the October Budget session, adding that it was expected to take effect by year-end.
• The government expected renewable energy to contribute about 6%, or 985 megawatt (MW), by 2015 and in 2020 about 11%, or 2,080 MW of electricity generation mix in Malaysia. (Bernama)

Singapore investors have shown keen interest in the development of Iskandar Malaysia but are still taking the "wait and see" attitude before going all out to invest there. To date, investment into Iskandar Malaysia has nearly reached RM60bn, but Singapore's private sector investment holding is worth only RM2.64bn, mainly in the region's manufacturing sector. (Bernama)