Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), through the Malaysia Design Council (MRM), is set to enhance the national design ecosystem by focusing on three strategic priorities, as announced by MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the key priorities outlined by MITI include fostering collaboration among designers, manufacturers, and academia; strengthening design standards and certification frameworks; and integrating design thinking into entrepreneurship. “Our ambition is clear, to make design a national competitive advantage, and to grow the creative economy into a key pillar of Malaysia’s industrial transformation,” Tengku Zafrul stated during the Malaysia Good Design Award and Certified Industrial Designer Award 2025 ceremony.

He further highlighted that Malaysia’s digital creative sector has generated RM5.3 billion in revenue, with exports nearing RM800 million, creating over 10,000 high-skilled jobs in 2023. The broader creative
economy has contributed RM29.4 billion, which accounts for approximately 1.9 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). “As these numbers grow, the message is clear – design is not a luxury, it is a growth driver for Malaysia’s economy,” Tengku Zafrul noted.

The minister emphasized that design will continue to play a pivotal role in enhancing productivity, supporting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives, and aiding small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations in competing globally under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the 13th Malaysia Plan.

In addition, Tengku Zafrul introduced the Kuala Lumpur Design Summit (KLDS) 2026, describing it as a ‘defining milestone that reflects the MRM’s steadfast vision to elevate Malaysia as a regional hub for design and innovation.’