MITI needs input for National Industry 4.0 policy framework

KUCHING: The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) needs valuable input from the industry players in developing the National Industry 4.0 policy framework, targeted to be completed by the first quarter of next year.

Its deputy minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong said enhancing the adoption of Industry 4.0 in emerging economies such as China, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and even Vietnam was largely done through government intervention, compared with some developed countries where the industries were the leaders.

He said with the collaboration of other key ministries such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; Ministry of Human Resources; Ministry of Higher Education; Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, MITI was leading the effort in enhancing the adoption of Industry 4.0 in the country, by developing the policy framework.

He pointed out that the National Policy on Industry 4.0 was being developed through engagements with various quarters within workshops, seminars and outreach programmes since the beginning of this year, which was also aimed at creating awareness of the importance and benefits in adopting Industry 4.0.

“The aim is to be as inclusive as possible in gathering feedback from the stakeholders and to increase awareness of Industry 4.0. The role of the government is more of an enabler for Industry 4.0 to be realised. At this juncture, it is ensuring that its intervention is done holistically,” he said at the opening of the Outreach Programme on Industry 4.0 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching yesterday.

“Industry 4.0 is a must for industries going forward, and there has been many forums, both domestic and international, emphasising the need for firms to go digital.

“The benefits of adopting Industry 4.0 technology by companies are significant. Success stories of some companies have shown us tangible results where the adoption of high technology has helped them accomplish increase in productivity and product variation, and faster time to market within the first year of adoption,” he added.

Chua said the government would explore and initiate all possible ways to facilitate emulation of the elements of Industry 4.0 in the current system, especially for SMEs.

This, he said, could be seen from the government’s initiative through the expansion of the scope of funding under various agencies, whereby manufacturers would be incentivised to diversify into frontier products which would allow them to enhance their productivity level including venturing into the elements of Industry 4.0.

More than 300 representatives from the SMEs in Sarawak, and the ministries, agencies, associations and chambers of commerce, as well as university students participated in the outreach programme. — Bernama