SHAH ALAM, July 17 — Selangor is transforming its youth development approach from producing job seekers to creating economic opportunity creators through various policies and initiatives within its entrepreneurship ecosystem.
State executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said the approach is being implemented through the Selangor Youth Entrepreneur Development Programme (PLATS), career transition programmes, micro-financing, digitalisation training, and market access initiatives.
"We are not merely helping young people start businesses, but building a complete ecosystem encompassing training, financing, marketing, and business scaling.
"This is in line with the state's economic aspiration of producing more young people who can drive new economic growth," he told Media Selangor.
Since its introduction in 2020, PLATS, an initiative managed by Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation) or MBI, has produced 102,050 entrepreneurs, of whom 19,419 are youths aged 18 to 35.
Najwan added that the success of youth development is no longer measured by the number of programmes conducted, but by the number of young people who secure employment or increase their income.
The indicators also include the number of new entrepreneurs who remain in business and continue to grow, as well as participation in leadership and volunteerism, together with collaborative networks established with industry.
"That is the most important transformation we are building in Selangor," he said, noting that youth development is being further strengthened through the Second Selangor Plan (RS-2) to ensure its impact is broader and more sustainable.
Selangor aims to develop a youth ecosystem capable of producing more entrepreneurs, creating more high-value employment opportunities, and nurturing more young leaders.
Emphasis is being placed on building an ecosystem that delivers tangible outcomes in employment, entrepreneurship, talent development, leadership, and preparedness for the future economy.
The state government will also ensure that every district has access to development opportunities through RS-2, including in e-sports, the creative industry, recreational activities, and volunteerism.
Najwan remarked that one of the most significant changes achieved is that youths are no longer regarded merely as beneficiaries, but as strategic partners in Selangor's development.
