States Should Build On Their Own Strengths Under NIMP 2030 – InvestPenang
By K. Naveen Prabu
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Penang’s long-established electrical and electronics (E&E) ecosystem highlights the importance of other Malaysian states building on their own strengths under the National Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, said InvestPenang.
NIMP 2030 is Malaysia’s national industrial policy, led by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI), to upgrade manufacturing and related service sectors through higher value creation, technology adoption and sustainability from 2023 to 2030.
InvestPenang is the state government’s non-profit entity purposed to promote investments within Penang.
Its chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian said Penang’s E&E ecosystem was developed over more than five decades, which underscores the role of long-term industrial development in supporting national industrial goals.
“While the federal government has identified key focus areas under the NIMP 2030, it is important for each state to recognise its own capabilities and build on its competitive advantages.
“By doing so, states can benefit from NIMP 2030 while collectively contributing to a more resilient national industrial ecosystem,” she told Bernama.
On Penang’s contribution to Malaysia’s industrial growth, she said the state continues to move up the value chain, particularly in E&E, machinery and equipment, global business services and medical devices.
“From 2020 to September 2025, Penang accounted for more than 60 per cent of Malaysia’s total E&E and medical-related exports. Approved manufacturing investments during the period totalled RM156 billion in E&E and RM3.7 billion in scientific and measuring equipment,” she said.
Loo said the spillover of Penang’s E&E and electric vehicle (EV)-related manufacturing activities into neighbouring states reflects the maturity of Penang’s industrial ecosystem and supports regional integration.
“This regional clustering allows Penang to complement, rather than compete, with surrounding states by deepening specialisation, enhancing overall competitiveness and strengthening integrated supply chains across the corridor,” she said.
Collectively, this reflects the Northern Corridor’s role as an integrated industrial cluster within the national framework. On federal-state coordination, Loo said alignment between national policy direction and state-level execution is important in ensuring NIMP 2030 delivers tangible outcomes.
“Close coordination helps reduce red tape for investors, align timelines, and ensure infrastructure and utilities are ready when investments materialise.
“When federal and state efforts are well-synchronised, NIMP 2030 can move beyond policy intent to real, on-the-ground impact across the country,” Loo said.
She said Penang currently hosts more than 350 multinational corporations and about 6,500 manufacturing-related small and medium enterprises (SMEs), many of which are already integrated into global E&E and semiconductor supply chains, either directly or through linkages with multinational firms.
“Through InvestPenang, the state continues to encourage greater supply chain localisation by facilitating closer collaboration between MNCs and local SMEs, including through supplier days and business matchmaking sessions.
“These efforts aim to progressively strengthen SME capabilities and enhance their participation in higher value segments of the global supply chain,” she said.
-- BERNAMA