Kuala lumpur: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has proposed strengthening the MARA-Japan Industrial Institute (MJII) as a strategic platform to enhance collaboration between Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) and Japanese industries. He emphasized that with more structured participation from Japanese companies, MJII can serve as a primary talent pipeline, with industry partners directly involved in training, mentoring, and ultimately recruiting graduates into their operations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Zahid highlighted Malaysia's commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a key pillar of national development. He stated that through MARA and other institutions, the aim is to produce not just skilled workers, but technopreneurs who can create businesses, develop technologies, and generate jobs. Zahid acknowledged Japan's strengths in precision engineering, automation, and green innovation, making it a natural partner in this journey.
He noted that digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and green industries are reshaping production, trade, and lifestyles. In this new landscape, natural resources alone are no longer sufficient. Zahid, who also serves as the Rural and Regional Development Minister, stressed that the real wealth of a nation lies in its people's skills, creativity, and adaptability.
Zahid asserted that the next chapter of Malaysia-Japan cooperation must move beyond traditional manufacturing into areas such as smart and advanced manufacturing, green and renewable technologies, digital innovation and automation, AI and robotics, and sustainable rural industries. He also mentioned that the collaboration between MARA-OISCA International Chapter exemplifies how diplomacy can translate into human development.
Since its inception, more than 1,000 Malaysian youths have undergone industrial training in Japan, while over 3,000 have benefited from skills programmes in Malaysia. About 70 per cent of these trainees have found employment in the private sector, many within Japanese multinational companies.
The 7th MARA-OISCA International Business Forum 2026, themed 'Cultivating Trust, Nurturing Sustainability', brought together government leaders, industry captains, diplomats, academicians, entrepreneurs, and international partners, particularly from Japan, to discuss strategic collaboration, sustainable development, and the future of Malaysia's human capital and economic competitiveness.