By Amar Shah Mohsen
SHAH ALAM, Sept 7 — Recognising Selangor’s role in developing Malaysia’s aerospace industry, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong gave a commitment that the federal government will work hand in hand with the state in the country’s bid to become an aerospace nation.
He said this is in line with the 12th Malaysia Plan and will be done via the Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030 and First Selangor Plan (RS-1).
“Our heading is clear, that we recognise the aerospace industry as one of the strategic drivers of Malaysia’s economic growth, benefitting the rakyat via gross domestic product growth and job creation,” he said at the opening ceremony of the Selangor Aviation Show (SAS) 2023, here, today.
“The recently launched New Industry Master Plan 2030, which aims to revitalise Malaysia’s manufacturing sector and increase its value-added turnaround to RM587.5 billion by 2030, also identified aerospace as one of the priority sectors for the country.”
Liew said following the ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership last year, the federal government is committed to supporting the trade and investment efforts from participating countries to further develop the country’s aerospace industry and strengthen the aerospace global supply chain.
This, the deputy minister said, is a shared vision between the federal government and the state of Selangor.
He pointed out that at present, Selangor houses 67 per cent of the country’s aerospace activities.
“Ease of doing business, infrastructure as well as being the location where skilled workers in aerospace converge, are the main reasons why Selangor is the preferred state for the global aerospace supply chain.
“With the RS-1 in place, Selangor is poised to further strengthen the aerospace supply chain, in particular for the manufacturing and maintenance, repair and operations sectors, increasing our economic resilience as a whole.”
On SAS 2023, Liew said this year’s edition looks very promising, with a wider range of aircraft on display, numerous memoranda of understanding and deals to be witnessed, and an increased participation compared with last year’s iteration.
He believes the annual event will set a new standard in the business and general aviation segment.
“Together, let us make this year’s show a milestone that positions SAS 2023 to be on par with the likes of the Asian Business Aviation Conference.
“In fact, we should also aspire to be at the same level as the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition or the AirVenture Oshkosh,” he said in reference to some of the biggest aviation shows in the world.
