Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia will leverage ASEAN’s role in strengthening rural development through more comprehensive and integrated regional planning, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He emphasized that as ASEAN Chair this year, Malaysia will focus on key areas such as digitalisation, increasing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and empowering rural women to ensure economic benefits reach all levels of society, including those in rural and remote areas.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid stressed the importance of ensuring that rural development is not sidelined amid rapid technological advancements. He advocated for intensified regional synergy through digitalisation, innovation hubs, and the promotion of technopreneurs to foster growth in the rural sector. During an exclusive interview on Bernama TV’s program “ASEAN: From Kuala Lumpur to the World,” Ahmad Zahid proposed establishing the ASEAN Villages Network (AVN) as a strategic platform to connect villages in the region with private and government sectors.
The initiative will focus on three key elements: Village Tourism, Digital Villages, and the One Village, One Product (OVOP) concept. Ahmad Zahid highlighted that Malaysia could use the AVN platform to promote rural products across ASEAN, creating greater economic opportunities for rural communities. He expressed confidence that these measures would make ASEAN an effective ‘market gateway’ for rural products.
Malaysia also plans to introduce several other programs, including the ASEAN business incubator, expert exchange program, and initiatives in renewable energy technology to strengthen rural entrepreneurship at the regional level. Ahmad Zahid believes these steps will ensure ASEAN 2025 has a direct impact on the people, especially rural communities.
Ahmad Zahid further emphasized the potential of the rural economy as a new driver of regional growth by increasing funding for rural technology startups and enhancing human capital development through TVET, particularly in agrotechnology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the digital economy. He also noted Malaysia’s strategic opportunity during its ASEAN chairmanship to strengthen cooperation in the halal sector, aiming to capitalize on the global market estimated to be worth USD 3 trillion.
With over 240 million Muslims in ASEAN, Ahmad Zahid sees a vast and high-potential halal market. Through Halal Diplomacy, Malaysia aims to bolster trade relations with countries like China, Russia, India, and the Philippines. The halal sector is expected to contribute 8.1 percent to Malaysia’s GDP this year. Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that these initiatives would ensure ASEAN 2025 delivers tangible benefits to the people, particularly rural communities. Malaysia officially assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship on Jan 1 this year, marking its fifth time in the role after previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.