While much of the oil and gas activity in Malaysia takes place away from Kuala Lumpur, the city has established itself as a global leader in energy terms, with foreign energy firms increasingly coming to the capital to establish a south-eastern Asian base.

Over the past two decades, Malaysia has established itself as one of the world's leading low-cost electrical component manufacturers. However, thanks to academic institutions such as Kuala Lumpur's Mimos ICT centre of innovation, the country is looking to rise up the value chain in this sector.

Just what makes an innovation district? asks Emily J Brown. Is it a city’s cultural vibe, modern amenities and transport? Or is it the mix of business and cutting-edge technology located there? 

Malaysia's government is targeting achieving high-income status by 2020, and sees foreign investment as being crucial to it realising this goal. However, it is wary of the country's economy being overdependent on business from overseas.

Its 13 free zones and 18 industrial zones are seen as lynchpins of Malaysia's economic aspirations as well as useful tools for helping outlying areas catch up with the capital city Kuala Lumpur. One such zone is Iskandar, where ambitious targets for development have been set.

Malaysia's excellent economic performance in recent years has come on the back of its Economic Transformation Programme. Its prime minister and finance minister Dato’ Sri Abdul Tun Najib Razak tells Barbara Njau how the programme has helped diversify the country's economy, which has continued to thrive while much of the rest of the world has struggled.

Julia Santos, head of global business optimisation for the Johnson & Johnson Group, explains to Barbara Njau why outsourcing is essential to the company’s business strategy.