Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) aims to generate MYR 30 billion (USD 7.16 billion) in annual revenue and 30,000 highly-skilled employment by 2025 through initiatives implemented under the Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint (MAIB) 2030 and Aerospace Industry Framework of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). One of MITI’s strategic initiatives is by establishing the National Aerospace Industry Corporation Malaysia (NAICO).
NAICO is a national aerospace development agency responsible for spearheading the growth of the aerospace ecosystem and coordinating measures under MAIB 2030 that aspires to establish Malaysia as a regional aerospace hub, and the 12MP, which focuses on aerospace digital technologies, Industry 4.0, ecosystem development, and human capital development. According to Senior Minister cum MITI Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin, NAICO will also serve as the National Aerospace Center of Excellence (COE) to promote ecosystem development in line with industry needs, develop local expertise, improve technology and engineering innovation and strengthen capacity in research and innovation. This includes creating an extensive local aerospace industry database. Azmin highlighted that the aerospace sector’s advanced technologies and precision-engineering capabilities will act as strategic enablers while complementing key segments such as the electrical and electronics, as well as automotive sectors within the country.
Some latest developments in Malaysia include the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation in Aircraft Industry with Japan to promote bilateral cooperation in aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), technology research, and human capital development between both countries. In addition, Collins Aerospace, one of the world’s largest suppliers of aerospace and defense products announced that it will invest more than MYR 16 million (USD 3.8 million) to expand its MRO operations in Malaysia by relocating to a new 160,000 sq ft facility at Subang Aerotech Park. The new facility is expected to be one of its regional hubs for aircraft component maintenance. The firm, which is also a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies Corp., an American multinational aerospace and defense conglomerate has begun offering additional MRO capabilities for its 568F propeller in its Malaysia facility in 2022.
(Sources: The Edge Markets; Collins Aerospace)
