Kuala lumpur: Selangor has launched the Invest Selangor Business Linkages and Advancement Programme (BLAST) to build the capacity and competitiveness of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and integrate them into high-value global supply chains. Selangor Investment, Trade and Mobility Executive Councillor Ng Sze Han said the structured six-month programme will guide a total of 12 companies in meeting the requirements of strategic corporate partners, preparing them to secure actual commercial contracts.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative undertaken by Invest Selangor Bhd also aims to help participating SMEs achieve a targeted five percent increase in revenue by 2030. Ng highlighted that BLAST focuses on four strategic sectors: aerospace, rail, life sciences, and digital technology. These sectors are expected to play a crucial role in defining the next decade of Selangor's economy, providing SMEs with opportunities to grow alongside world-class companies.
Ng emphasized that when SMEs meet the standards of leading companies operating in Selangor, they can compete at a global level. "BLAST is not only preparing our SMEs to become suppliers. It is preparing them to become globally competitive," he stated during the programme's launch.
The programme's strategic corporate partners include Base Maintenance Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Sime UMW Aerospace, Duopharma Biotech Bhd, Bridge Data Centres Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd. Additionally, the programme is supported by ecosystem partners such as the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation, Malaysia Aerospace Industry Association, National Tech Association of Malaysia, and Malaysian Rail Industry Corporation.
Ng announced that a key milestone will be the business matching sessions this October, held in conjunction with the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from October 14-17. He extended an invitation, stating, "SIBS is where Selangor meets the world, and this year our SMEs will be at the centre of it."
Ng also remarked that Selangor aims not only for numerical success but for tangible achievements, citing the state's 2025 performance, with a gross domestic product of RM460.1 billion and the highest approved investments of RM33.5 billion. He stressed the importance of local companies winning contracts, entering global supply chains, and evolving from suppliers to partners and champions.
In a joint statement, Invest Selangor and its partner, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), announced that MTDC will lead the management and implementation of the SME capacity-building programme alongside corporate and ecosystem partners. They will leverage their expertise in mentorship, knowledge transfer, and institutional networking to strengthen Selangor's industrial ecosystem and enhance the competitiveness of local enterprises.