Roundtable Discussion: Why Malaysia is not in a middle-income trap

What does it mean for Malaysia to move beyond the “middle-income trap”?

On 6 August 2026, Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) hosted a roundtable discussion bringing together think tanks, research institutions and policy experts to examine whether the “middle-income trap” remains a useful way to understand Malaysia’s development trajectory.

The session featured Philip Schellekens, Chief Economist of UNDP Asia and the Pacific, who presented on “Why Malaysia is not in a middle-income trap?”. The discussion explored Malaysia’s continued economic progress and what should shape the country’s next phase of development beyond simply achieving high-income status. It also considered how Malaysia can focus on relentlessly driving structural change, strengthening its capabilities and building a more competitive economy as it moves towards its next stage of development.

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