KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Selangor doubled down on social inclusivity and high-technology investments on day two of the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2025, highlighting its two-pronged economic strategy.
The day’s centrepiece was the launch of the Selangor Care Network at the inaugural Selangor International Care Summit (SICS), where state executive councillor for women empowerment and welfare Anfaal Saari positioned the care sector as a critical economic pillar rather than a mere compassionate endeavour.
“If this sector were to be neglected or dismissed, working mothers would face difficulties, needing to take leave, and that would disrupt the economic pyramid,” she said during the care summit’s launch.
In a concrete step forward in tandem with the state’s care economy policy, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) became the first local authority to launch the Petaling Jaya Care Economy Action Plan 2025-2030.
This includes the PJ Food With Love initiative, which provides meals and support to senior citizens living alone.
Petaling Jaya Mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the plan is “not just a choice, but an urgent need to ensure residents’ well-being”.
On the industrial front, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari confirmed the return of the crowd-drawing Selangor Aviation Show in 2026.
The show, popular for its static aircraft displays, will alternate each year with the industry-focused Selangor Aerospace Summit (SAS), balancing public engagement with professional platforms for industry discussions.
Amirudin also announced a significant shift in the upcoming 2026 Selangor Budget, with education receiving the largest allocation for the first time, overtaking the economy and welfare portfolios.
As part of this shift, the state intends to introduce technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes in secondary schools, rather than in just tertiary institutions.
Separately in another conference, state executive councillor for investment, trade and mobility Ng Sze Han confirmed Selangor will launch its second Integrated Circuit (IC) Design Park in Cyberjaya on November 6, following full occupancy of the first park in Puchong.
Ng tied the investment directly to social mobility by mandating that companies in the second park “must pay a minimum starting salary of RM6,000 to fresh graduates” to uplift the middle class and retain talent amid the regional middle-income crisis.
He also defended foreign investment in the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector, arguing that while it attracts talent with higher wages, it ultimately creates “healthy competition” that drives local wages upwards.
Today’s agenda includes speeches by Anfaal and Amirudin on care economy accessibility, an AI forum under the Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy Convention moderated by Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec) chief executive Yong Kai Ping, and a dinner for delegates hosted by Amirudin and Ng.
