SHAH ALAM: Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali wants the Selangor state government to concentrate on niche industries such as the aerospace industry.
He said when debating at the state legislative assembly on Tuesday (March 14), that the aerospace industry, which had taken a severe beating during the pandemic, was currently on the road to recovery.
The aerospace industry players were currently ranking up and recharging and this was a good opportunity for the state to strengthen its footing in the industry, added Mohamed Azmin.
"If possible, the state government must also relook at Invest Selangor to strengthen it so that it will not be just a promotional agency," said the former Selangor mentri besar.
Invest Selangor is the state government’s investment arm.
Mohamed Azmin, who was the International Trade and Industry Minister in the previous Perikatan Nasional-helmed Federal Government, said strengthening the agency would allow Invest Selangor to be more proactive and participatory when dealing with high-skilled and high-technology investments.
"I suggest Invest Selangor is given the guidance, support and bigger funding to enter the field with small and medium industries (SMEs) that are involved in the aerospace industry," said Mohamed Azmin.
According to Mohamed Azmin, most of the Malaysian companies involved in the aerospace industry were tier-one companies, and it would be very beneficial if the state government looked into helping companies that came under tier two and tier three.
"It will contribute towards stoking and growing the economy and we have to look at SME development programmes and long-term coaching, like how it's been done in Singapore," he added.
Mohamed Azmin said there was also a need to move from the SME development programme to the Industrial Technology Development Programme.
