High five to Lima!
‘It has enabled us to keep up with booming defence sector’
The 15th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition is special and nostalgic because Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched the first one in 1991. The Prime Minister credits it for making Malaysia prominent.
LANGKAWI: Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) has helped Malaysia keep up with the catalytic and rapidly growing defence industry, says Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Malaysia has gained prominence and is known as the leading maritime and aerospace exhibition in the Asia-Pacific area.
“As the MP for Langkawi, it is indeed with pride that I witness this edition of Lima still attracting international maritime and aerospace players and businesses from all corners of the globe,” the Prime Minister said in his opening speech when launching Lima‘19 yesterday.
Themed “Defence and Commercial Connecting Intelligence”, the 15th edition of Lima is co-organised by EN Projects (M) Sdn Bhd, the Defence Ministry and the Transportation Ministry.
Dr Mahathir stressed that modern security threats required Malaysia and other countries to keep upgrading and modernising their strategic assets.
Under Budget 2019, the government has allocated RM5.9bil for the security sector, which covers defence, public order and enforcement.
“We plan to make Malaysia the leading aerospace nation in South-East Asia and an integral part of the global market, whereby this was spelt out under the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030.
“A total of 19 key initiatives of the blueprint have been implemented by the National Aerospace Industry Coordinating Office, which saw positive developments particularly in the aerospace manufacturing and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) business,” he said.
The premier also shared that Malaysia is globally known for its quality aerospace products manufactured for global aerospace leaders, with some of these products to be showcased throughout Lima ‘19.
Dr Mahathir added that Malaysia should look at other opportunities in the industry, particularly in ship designing, parts and components manufacturing, system integration and other marine equipment production.