Selati Forges Partnerships To Bridge Gaps In Selangor's Aerospace Ecosystem

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Selangor Aviation & Technology Innovation Sdn Bhd (Selati) aims to bridge the technology and skills gaps within the state's aerospace ecosystem through strategic partnerships with local and global collaborators.

Selati's chief executive officer, Zannifa Azura Ahmad, explained that such a move is necessary because, despite 60 percent of the nation's aerospace ecosystem being based in Selangor, there are still significant shortfalls in technology and skilled manpower. 

“If left solely to the private sector, these gaps would persist. Selati was established as a state agency to close these gaps by introducing global standards adapted to local players.

“These measures include technology transfer, development of local talent, and the localisation of the supply and vendor chain.

“When technology is localised, it drives a new ecosystem of local talent and supply,” she told Bernama at the recent Selangor International Business Summit 2025, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

To achieve this, Zannifa Azura said Selati has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with three strategic partners.

They are the China-ASEAN AI Collaborative Centre (CAAIC) in Nanning, China Comservice Guangxi ASEAN Research Institute for Smart Cities and Digital Infrastructure Development, and local firm Prima Alam Technologies Sdn Bhd.

“This MoC is significant because it encompasses not just technology, but also elements of revenue generation and local talent development,” she said.

She highlighted that the issue of funding is also being addressed, with several local financial institutions having agreed to leverage their respective Research and Development Departments to create new models for financing development of the local supply chain.

“We cannot view this on a project-by-project basis. It must be seen holistically and comprehensively. That is Selati's objective,” she emphasised.

She explained that Selati, which was established in 2019, is now being actively driven forward in line with the ongoing development of the Selangor KLIA Aeropolis (Selangor Aeropark).

The first phase of the Selangor Aeropark involves a 220-hectare (545-acre) site, of which 80 hectares (200 acres) have been cleared for development. The anchor tenant, GE Aerospace, has been allocated 40 hectares (100 acres), making it the company's largest investment outside of the United States.

“Construction is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2027. Project approvals are being fast-tracked within 14 to 30 days through the ‘Speed Selangor’ initiative,” she said.

On the human capital development front, Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) has also partnered with the National Aerospace Industry Corporation Malaysia to establish the MyAero Training Centre in Selangor Aeropark, and Selati will support and strengthen the initiative through its technology and innovation capabilities. 

“Selati is not a policy-maker, but a delivery partner for state projects. We want to ensure that local talent development keeps pace with technological advancements in the aerospace and AI sectors,” she stated.

She added that Selati's long-term vision is to create a technological platform with benefits that extend across various sectors, including disaster management, smart cities and industrial digitalisation.

“The state government invests once, builds once, but the applications are manifold, from the aerospace sector to smart cities, and even disaster prevention systems. That is what we aim to achieve,” she concluded.

-- BERNAMA