Ingenieur Vol 80 ingenieur 2019 octoberfinal | Page 11

Figure 2: The number of institutions involved in the aerospace industry has dramatically increased from 1997 to 2015 (Source: MiGHT, 2015). Industry initiative. SME Aerospace undertook the task of the integration and final assembly of the MD3 Aero Tiga and marketing the aircraft. Thus began the initial phase of the aerospace manufacturing industry in Malaysia. The first National Aerospace Industry Blueprint inaugurated in 1997 provided Malaysia with a platform to launch its initial aerospace industry programmes. Through the continuous effort of multiple players and stakeholders, the industry has achieved a significant percentage of what was laid down in the blueprint. Along with the rapidly growing world’s aerospace and defence industry, the industry managed to expand and grow into more complex and sophisticated activities. We should focus and invest more in technology related activities and the application of sciences in the industry, instead of just on revenue generating activities, even though in the early stage, the focus was on maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of aircrafts for the domestic market. Since then, the aerospace industry has grown by leaps and bounds and the national aerospace industry has ventured into aerospace manufacturing, avionics and systems integration, engineering and design services, and aerospace training and education. Malaysia is currently home to more than 200 aerospace companies, comprising both international and local industry players. These include 66 companies involved in MRO activities, 33 companies in aero-manufacturing, 25 companies in education and training, and 11 companies in systems integration, as well as engineering and design. In 2014, there were 159 aerospace companies in the country. Over the next three years, the number ballooned to 200 companies. Figure 2 shows a graphic of the institutions/companies in 1997 and the institutions/companies operating in 2015. The outlook for the aerospace industry is very bright not only for Malaysia but across the world, with rising wealth and the advent of discount airlines that have made air travel extremely popular. At the same time, the boom in electronic and mobile commerce has increased air-freight volumes as consumers order goods across borders, demanding speedy delivery (MIDA, 2018). Figure 3 shows the focus areas of the aerospace industry presented by the Malaysian Industry – Government Group for High Technology (MiGHT) in 2015. The industry generated a total revenue of RM14.4 billion in 2018, up 6.7% from RM13.5 billion in 2017, according to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). The MITI Minister, Datuk Darell Leiking was quoted by Bernama saying that the Government aims to generate up to RM16 billion in revenue from the aerospace industry this year (2019). By 2030, the industry is projected to contribute revenues of RM20.4 billion for MRO, RM21.2 billion for aero- manufacturing, and RM13.6 billion for engineering and design services, totalling RM55.2 billion. 9