Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) will continue to strengthen state-level initiatives that align with national aspirations and provide a conducive environment for their implementation under the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS). Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz emphasized MITI’s recognition and support for talent development initiatives spearheaded by state governments, complementing national efforts to enhance the country’s semiconductor ecosystem.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, one of the notable examples is the initiative led by the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC). This includes the establishment of the Malaysia Advanced Semiconductor Academy and the execution of a global semiconductor exchange programme. This initiative aims to be standardized and strategically integrated into the talent development framework under the NSS, particularly focusing on human capital development, which is crucial for the growth of the semiconductor industry.

During the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat, Minister Zafrul responded to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari (PH-Gombak). He was asked to outline the federal and state governments’ efforts to meet the target of training or securing up to 60,000 engineers under the NSS. Minister Zafrul urged the Selangor state government to collaborate with existing national talent development programmes to address the shortage of engineers and highly skilled professionals in the semiconductor value chain.

MITI is committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive ecosystem involving state governments, industry players, and institutions of higher learning. This approach aims to ensure that talent development in the semiconductor sector is pursued sustainably and with a long-term perspective.