Embassy of the United States

On this page, you will find a quick description of resources available for companies in Malaysia considering investments in the United States and some suggestions for getting started.

Investing in the USA

President Obama announced the SelectUSA initiative to showcase the United States as the world’s premier business location and to provide easy access to federal-level programs and services related to business investment. SelectUSA is designed to complement the activities of our states—the primary drivers of economic development in the United States.

Why Invest in the United States? 

The United States is a market without parallel.   The United States is the world’s largest economy and has the world’s third-largest population, with a gross domestic product of over $14 trillion and a per capita GDP of over $47,000.  With over 310 million U.S. consumers and a median household income of over $50,000, the U.S. market is highly diverse in consumer tastes, income, and national origin.  It is no wonder that trends in global consumer markets often start in the United States, and brands are not considered truly global until they penetrate the U.S. market.  

The United States has a productive, ready workforce.  There are more than 150 million workers in the U.S. labor market.  They share the same language, work under highly amenable labor laws, and have a long history of following the trail of opportunity and reward.  Americans know how to take advantage when opportunities present themselves -- it's the American spirit.  And that spirit makes the U.S. workforce a desired partner in developing successful businesses. 

The United States is business and investment friendly.  The United States consistently ranks at the top of most major indicators for its attractive business and investment climate. The U.S. is #2 in AT Kearney’s Foreign Direct Investment confidence index rankings, #4 in the World Economic Forum’s competitiveness rankings, and #5 in the World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business” rankings.

The United States is the world’s center for innovation. The United States was responsible for 41 percent of all expenditures in research and development in developed countries in 2007. And almost half of all scientific researchers in the developed world work in the United States.  The U.S. is home to the world’s top universities, boasting all of the top 5 spots, seven of the top 10, and more than half the top 50 places (27).  In fact, the U.S. has more than twice as many universities represented in the top 200 as its nearest rival, the UK, which has 29 [Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2010-11].   According to statistics from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), all of the top 10 international universities ranked by number of global patent applications are located in the United States.

Opportunities abound.  We’re ready to help.

Getting Started

1. Visit the SelectUSA.gov website to obtain general information about investing in the United States. SelectUSA seeks to highlight the many advantages the United States offers as location for business and investment.  From a vast domestic market, to a transparent legal system, to the most innovative companies in the world, America is the place for business.  On the website you can browse business incentives offered by different states and territories.
2. Contact us at the U.S. embassy to discuss your interests and needs

Visas

For information regarding business visas to visit the U.S.A., please visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/ for detailed information.