KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- The era of local companies being more keen to invest overseas has come to an end, says Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

He said the companies had seen a lot of excitement in the local economy due to the Economic Transformation Programme and the Entry-Point Projects.

"Domestic direct investment (DDI) totalled RM19.7 billion, or 48.4 per cent, and foreign direct investment RM21 billion, or 51.6 per cent, just slightly higher from the DDI as at October, 2011.

"With the country achieving RM40.7 million in investments as at October, I believe we can achieve the same investment figure of RM47 billion recorded last year as we still have figures for the last two months to include," he told the media after launching the 'KL Principle Code of Ethics for the SMEs' programme here today.

Mukhriz said Sarawak was the top state with RM7.3 billion in investment as at October and the largest investor was local company, Leader Universal Aluminium (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.

Selangor was second with RM6.8 billion, Johor (RM6.7 billion), Penang (RM5.7 billion), Negeri Sembilan (RM3.5 billion), Pahang (RM2.9 billion), Terengganu (RM1.4 billion), Perak (RM966 million), Kedah (RM765 million), Sabah (RM720 million), Kuala Lumpur (RM299 million), Kelantan (RM129 million) and Perlis (RM23 million.

Meanwhile, SME Corp and Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission had teamed up to draft a Code of Ethics for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), known as KL Principle Code of Ethics for the SMEs.

The code supports the principles to curb corruption such as integrity, transparency, freedom and precision.

The code is one of the initiatives based on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's Kuala Lumpur Principles, which were agreed and endorsed at its 18th ministerial meeting in the US last May.

-- BERNAMA