Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – In the next five to 10 years, Malaysia is targeting 60,000 skilled technology/engineering based talents to attract high-quality investments that create higher-paying jobs, said Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Speaking in a panel session titled "Strategic Integration of Trade, Talent Management and Industry Policies: Fuelling Economic Growth Through Human Capital Development" for "The Ministers Leading From the Front: Creating A Talent-Driven Economy - Government Policies and Practices" programme on June 28, the minister said the country needs to address the challenges faced in developing the right human workforce, particularly the engineering profession as it moves towards the successful execution of the government's economic plans, namely the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 and the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS).
He emphasised that without the right human capital and the right talent management of human capital, it is difficult for the country to realise its dreams and aspiration to become an industrialised nation.
He said that given the geopolitical environment today, Malaysia is at a sweet spot where industries are converging, and companies are realigning and redefining their supply chain as Malaysia is involved with 16 free trade agreements (FTAs), both bilaterally and multilaterally. In those FTAs, talent is the focus.
According to him, the country must widen the talent funnel, which must begin at primary school. It needs to build a robust pipeline of future-ready industrial workforce primed for embracing innovation in key technologies./.
