iplauto 5...Proton workers at work at the Proton manufacturing plant in Behrang Hulu near Tanjung Malim. pix by: saiful bahri/27-10-2005/ipoh/chan li leen.
SEREMBAN: The automotive industry is expected to be among industries that will undergo major changes as a result of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), Permodalan Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Ahmad said.
He said the Government expected the sector to continue to be among the most important sectors contributing to the country’s economic development, hence entrepreneurs, especially those involved in the automotive sector should capitalise on the growth of Industry 4.0.
“They must prepare their business in tandem with current technological advancement by using the Internet and migrating to a digital platform and automation.
“Many experts expect under Industry 4.0, human duty will ultimately be replaced with robotics and this will change company operations towards digitalisation and automation, thereby fostering heavy reliance on technology,” he said at the PUNB CEO Meets Negri Sembilan Entrepreneurs event in Senawang on Wednesday.
Present was Kumpulan Usahawan PUNB Negri Sembilan chairman Zamani Baharom, who is also MAG Technology & Trading Sdn Bhd managing director.
Azhar said the automotive industry currently contributed about RM40bil or 3.6% to the country’s gross domestic product.
He said as at Oct 31, PUNB had developed 882 automotive companies and businesses involving 1,227 entrepreneurs nationwide with a total funding approval of RM272.3mil.
Selangor tops the list of automotive financing approvals amounting to RM96.4mil, followed by Kelantan (RM30.5mil) and Kuala Lumpur (RM23.1mil), he said.
He said during the same period, 232 companies and businesses in Negri Sembilan, involving 336 bumiputra entrepreneurs, were developed in various sectors with a total funding approval of RM77.8mil.
Of the total, 37 automotive-based companies involving 59 entrepreneurs were allocated a total funding approval of RM15.8mil, he added.
Azhar said PUNB would continue to play its role in helping automotive entrepreneurs to upgrade their business to assail to greater heights. - Bernama
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