Malaysia's capital market, which is now more inclusive and accessible than ever and valued at US$816 billion, has done
remarkably well in reinforcing the economy by invigorating the bond market, particularly Islamic bonds, boosting the unit trusts industry and contributing to national savings.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia's vibrant capital market was now equivalent to two-and-a-half times the country's current gross domestic product.

Besides this, the country's bond market worth US$314 billion has grown to become Asia's third largest relative to gross domestic product and the largest unit trust industry in Asean, with a combined net asset value of US$102 billion.

"Our sukuk market accounts for almost 70 per cent of the global total and home to the world's largest Islamic unit trust industry," he said in his keynote address at the World Capital Market Symposium 2013 in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the rise of a vibrant capital market over the last 20 years in line with the country's economy that is more open, competitive and better integrated with global markets, has enabled savings to be more efficiently mobilised and utilised for capital.

"We have one of the highest savings rates in the world," he said.-- Bernama