JOHOR, MALAYSIA -- Demand for electronics products will boost Malaysia's manufacturing sectors by some 6.6% this year.

That's down a fraction from 2006 (7%), due to some first-half softness, but growth is expected to pick up in the second half.

The forecasts were included in Bank Negara Malaysia's 2006 Annual Report, released this week.

Several of the world's largest EMS provider have large factories in Malaysia.