SHAH ALAM, Dec 2 — Selangor is expanding its technical and vocational educational and training (TVET) programmes to meet the demands of high-value sectors, such as artificial intelligence (AI), automation, biotech, and aerospace.
The state is also strengthening industry-linked initiatives, such as introducing the Selangor Career Outreach (SCOUT) programme to maintain a reliable talent pool. The initiative, announced in the 2026 Selangor Budget, would connect academia and industry to nurture skilled talent and expand job opportunities across the state.
Invest Selangor Bhd chief executive officer Dato’ Hasan Azhari Idris said the state’s strategy coincides with the federal government’s efforts to develop the Central Region Initiative, which is set to be a new engine of national growth.
Introduced on November 11, it is a partnership that bridges states, industries, and generations with a strategic collaboration between Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Melaka as Malaysia’s most dynamic economic zones.
It focuses on aligning state-level investment policies, strengthening regional connectivity and upgrading industrial corridors into hi-tech clusters such as digital hubs, green tech parks and advanced logistics zones.
“Invest Selangor views the Central Region Initiative as a strategic platform that further strengthens Selangor’s position as the nucleus of Malaysia’s manufacturing and services activities.
“Given Selangor’s established leadership in logistics, advanced manufacturing and high-value services, the state is well positioned to anchor the initiative and drive wider economic transformation across the central region,” Hasan told Media Selangor in a recent interview.
He said the state is set to prioritise high-impact clusters, including aerospace, electrical and electronics (E&E), rail, logistics, automotive, and technology-driven innovations.
“Selangor’s strengths include its strategic central location, which makes it geographically well positioned to connect key economic regions, facilitate trade and logistics, and serve as a hub for both domestic and regional business activities,” he said.
To equip the workforce for these sectors, he said the state’s TVET programmes would focus on robotics, industrial automation, and aerospace maintenance.
Hasan added that through collaborations with industry partners, trainees gain hands-on experience via internships and practical training, ensuring alignment with industry needs.
Rippling growth across states
According to Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), the Central Region Initiative is projected to drive long-term growth, contributing RM24.5 billion annually to the gross domestic product (GDP) and generating 5,000 high-value jobs.
While tabling the state budget on November 14, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the initiative provides state governments with the opportunity to drive investment, digitalisation, and smart-green urban development.
He said it also aims to provide more structured support for multinational corporations (MNCs) to scale up, adopt higher-value technologies and deepen talent retention.
Hasan added that Selangor’s robust ecosystem, supported by world-class connectivity, mature industrial clusters, and a strong talent base, will continue to serve as the primary catalyst for growth, while generating spillover benefits for neighbouring states like Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
“Invest Selangor will focus on serving as a catalytic facility for companies to undertake E&E-related, specifically front-end semiconductor, activities, as well as aerospace.
“We will also provide opportunities for neighbouring states to attract complementary front-end activities and aerospace-related activities, as well as strengthening the overall industry ecosystem,” he said.
Hasan added that enhancing regional connectivity is a key priority, emphasising that a stronger policy and regulatory framework to integrate the states more effectively will minimise bottlenecks and boost operational efficiency.
He said that under the initiative, Selangor will work closely with MNCs through its SME-Investors Linkages programme, connecting local companies with foreign investors as potential vendors, suppliers, and partners.
“By fostering these linkages, Selangor ensures local businesses benefit from technology transfer, workforce upskilling, and innovation-driven growth, while MNCs gain stronger, more resilient local ecosystems to support their operations and long-term investment in the state,” he said.
Hasan added that with these measures, Selangor is establishing itself as a central hub for high-value industries, advanced technology adoption, and sustainable economic growth in the heart of Malaysia.
