Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, the deputy minister of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI), has announced plans to transform the Langkawi International Space Forum (LISF) into an annual event, driven by the positive impact of its inaugural edition in May.
He made this declaration during the forum, which coincided with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023, where four memorandums of understanding (MoU) were signed, along with the successful exchange of three letters of intent (LoI) with three local companies, according to Bernama.
These projects are currently progressing according to the Gantt chart established and monitored by the Special Committee for Strategic Cooperation and International Networking, operating under the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA).
Addressing the Dewan Rakyat during a question and answer session, Arthur highlighted the potential economic contribution, estimating RM44 million, from the four MoUs and three LoIs signed during the year.
Furthermore, Arthur noted that ten local space technology companies have united to establish the Malaysian Space Industry Corporation (MASIC) under the guidance of the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT).
MASIC’s formation aims to foster a dynamic aerospace industry ecosystem, thereby enhancing Malaysia’s aerospace capabilities.
In addition to this, MYSA, in collaboration with MIGHT, has initiated discussions concerning bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Turkiye in the realm of space technology.
This collaboration will focus on knowledge exchange and talent development to nurture a skilled workforce in satellite technology.
