Malaysia an ideal place to meet aerospace sector growing demand in Asia-Pacific - MIDA

Chief executive officer (CEO) Arham Abdul Rahman said given the vibrant business environment, MIDA is optimistic that Rolls-Royce would benefit from Malaysia's established ecosystem and facilities.

"We are pleased that Malaysia continues to fit into Rolls-Royce's overall growth strategy for the region, exceptionally so, with its Industry 4.0 technology success.

"We believe with our strategic value proposition, companies will be able to grow their business to another level and transform as competitive world players.

"We will ensure the business sentiment in Malaysia remains attractive amid the challenging global economy and the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," he said in a statement today.

Congratulating UMW Aerospace for the achievement, Arham said the inclusion places UMW Aerospace amongst the top 5.0 per cent of Rolls-Royce's global suppliers, since winning the "Trusted to Deliver Excellence" award in 2018.

He said through various agencies, including MIDA, the government would ensure the long-term development of the local aerospace industry, including expanding the aerospace supply chain with the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); as Malaysia strives to become a leading aerospace nation in Southeast Asia by 2030.

As the country's pivotal investment promotion agency, MIDA envisions to develop more Tier 1 home-grown companies such as UMW Aerospace and further nurture them to penetrate new markets, as well as link up with major aerospace industry players, including original equipment manufacturer at the global arena, he said.

Meanwhile, UMW Holdings Bhd president and Group CEO Datuk Ahmad Fuaad Kenali said the group is humbled with this achievement and its unwavering commitment to high-quality products, as well as services has led to this recognition.

He said UMW Aerospace has proven itself as a reputable player in the highly-regulated aerospace industry in a short period.

"Furthermore, this achievement places UMW Aerospace among the more established players in the industry and in a favourable position to participate in Rolls-Royce's future projects.

"We believe this achievement is a testament to Malaysia's potential to become an aerospace hub in ASEAN," he said.

UMW Aerospace Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UMW Group, is the only home-grown company to become a Tier 1 supplier to Rolls-Royce.