MITI plans to announce National Industry 4.0 framework by mid-year

According to Bernama, deputy minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong has said that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) hopes to announce the National Industry 4.0 policy framework before mid-year.

Datuk Chua highlighted that the framework, currently at the last stage of drafting, would be announced by MITI minister, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

In the report, Datuk Chua said: “It’s in the progress. We try to avoid the framework from being just a government-driven agenda, so there is a lot of engagement being done with the industry players, including the small and medium enterprises.”

“The input process took a while for us (MITI) to formulate. We hopefully trying to hit before middle of this year,” he added.

The ministry was coordinating five working groups, involving various ministries, in drafting the National Industry 4.0 policy framework. The ministries involved included the ministry of science, technology and innovation; ministry of human resources; ministry of higher education; ministry of finance; and the ministry of communications and multimedia.

Following the tabling of the framework in parliament, “the government will decide which ministry will drive the implementation of the National Industry 4.0.”

Meanwhile, 2018 would register a positive growth but not as strong as 2017 when it comes to trade performance.

He said the excellent 2017 results, which saw the export figures registering a consistent double-digit growth, created a higher base for this year. Datuk Chua commented: “Nevertheless, with the initiatives that the government is looking at (on enhancing trade) will play a role in assisting Malaysia (to continue post growth).”

“We believe that to hit a (month-on-month) double-digit growth will be challenging. It will be single-digit growth,” he added.

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