As part of the MADANI Economy mission to internationalise SMEs and eradicate poverty, Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) today (September 5) organised an Industry-Academia Collaboration (IAC) workshop as a platform to discuss the talent needs of SMEs with the aim to drive solutions.
Themed “Sustainable Talent Pipeline in the SME Sector (Emerging Tech)”, the workshop gathered university partners and SME stakeholders, including SMECorp, SAMENTA, SMITA, and The Ship Campus, to combine solution-focused networking with data collection, input, and feedback to identify ways to close talent gaps in the industry and region.
During the launch, YB Jagdeep Singh Deo, Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister II, commended TalentCorp for its work in nurturing talent and advancing the development of a skilled labour force in the SME industry, allowing the state to maintain its throne as the Silicon Valley of the east.
“With the support of TalentCorp’s collaborative efforts to promote a knowledge-based environment, Penang can attract and retain talent to advance its SME sector, increasing its competitiveness towards achieving Penang 2030 Vision which focuses on shaping a “Family-Focused, Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation”.,” he added.
In his welcoming speech, Thomas Mathew, TalentCorp’s Group Chief Executive Officer said that such programmes are not only intended to boost the state’s economy, but also to significantly meet the needs of the MADANI economy.
“There is a massive global shift in how work is done, manifesting itself as the “Future of Work” that is driven by IR 4.0, Energy transitions and New Age Technologies. Malaysia has embarked on the National Energy Transition Roadmap and the New Industrial Master Plan underscored by sustainability, moving our manufacturing sector up the value chain,” he said.
“The outcome of today’s workshop, like all our IAC workshops, will be collated and shared with the appropriate stakeholders, and be used to advance strategic initiatives and programmes to further enhance the SME industry in Malaysia,” he added.
