Malaysia: Malaysia-Japan economic relations are evolving, increasingly towards co-creation, with Malaysian companies participating as suppliers, partners, and solution providers within regional and global value chains.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) chief executive officer Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid stated that partnerships are no longer just about large corporations investing and operating independently. He highlighted that this collaborative approach is not restricted to Malaysia alone, with opportunities extending across ASEAN and Asia, thereby strengthening regional ecosystems and supporting Japan's broader co-creation vision with ASEAN.
Sikh Shamsul noted that this progressive direction is reinforced through the MIDA-Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) memorandum of cooperation signed in October 2025, which provides a structured framework to move from engagement to pilots to investment and scale. He made these remarks during the Japan-ASEAN Fast Track Pitch Initiative, an event launched in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN friendship and cooperation, aiming to foster open innovation and co-creation through collaboration between Japanese and ASEAN enterprises.
Reflecting on past initiatives, Sikh Shamsul mentioned the Malaysia-Japan Digital Exchange Pitch at MIDA in 2023, which demonstrated the potential of structured pitching programmes to generate impactful collaborations. He emphasized that the current collaboration under the Japan-ASEAN Fast Track Pitch Initiative represents another step forward in these efforts. Such platforms, he added, allow MIDA to play a supportive, proactive, and visible role by endorsing initiatives that promote innovation-driven partnerships and highlighting Malaysia as a credible hub for technology and entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, Sikh Shamsul outlined a key focus area moving forward, involving deep technology startups in sectors like advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, materials, climate solutions, and industrial digitalisation. He acknowledged that while these ventures may take longer to develop, they have the potential to deliver a profound impact. These technologies are essential for supporting multinational corporations (MNCs), strengthening supply chains, and upgrading industries, aligning with the goals of the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030.
Sikh Shamsul also emphasized that Malaysia is nurturing a wider spectrum of innovation, noting that startups across digital solutions, sustainability, smart mobility, and industry-specific applications are critical to the ecosystem. Together, they create scalable solutions, drive industrial upgrading, and reinforce competitiveness. He stressed the importance of nurturing and facilitating startups as part of a broader industrial ecosystem that includes corporates, investors, and research institutions.