Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) is intensifying efforts to drive systematic reindustrialisation in support of Malaysia’s goal of becoming a high-income nation, said its minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He stated that policies such as the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) are not only charting the course for reindustrialisation but are also actively encouraging industries to embrace high technology and digitalisation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Tengku Zafrul emphasized the importance of ensuring that the ‘Made in Malaysia’ stamp becomes synonymous with quality and innovation, which will, in turn, create high-value jobs for the future. He made these remarks during his keynote address at the Youth Empowerment Fair, themed ‘Empowering Youth in the Digital Workforce’.
Tengku Zafrul further explained that MITI is committed to enabling youth careers to thrive in the new high-tech environment through three co
re pillars: industrial development, investment promotion, and international trade. One of the primary missions of the NSS is to train 60,000 highly skilled engineers for the semiconductor industry.
He highlighted Malaysia’s ambition to become a generative artificial intelligence (AI) hub by 2030, aiming to position the country as a leader in the AI space by integrating this technology across the entire economy. MITI and its agencies are co-creating clear career opportunities for young people, such as the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and Internet of Things Institute (MARii), which is establishing digital hubs to develop expertise in data analytics, robotics, and AI, particularly for the automotive and mobility sectors.
Additionally, the Engineering Talent for Semiconductor Industry programme, led by Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) and the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), offers structured internships and targeted training to produce the engineers needed
for Malaysia’s high-tech industries.
Tengku Zafrul stressed that these initiatives ensure industrial growth is supported by a robust talent pipeline, where Malaysian youths and STEM graduates can occupy high-value, high-paying roles. On the international trade front, MITI is working to create a dynamic trading environment to support youth careers by promoting exports and pushing industries to adopt global standards and the latest technologies.
He concluded by encouraging young people to seize the opportunities laid out by policymakers like MITI, applying their talent and ambition to help shape a progressive future for Malaysia.