For more than three decades, the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) has stood as a powerful testament to Malaysia’s high-technology ambitions and industrial progress. Each edition of LIMA is far more than a biennial showcase; it is a celebration of national innovation, a platform for strategic collaboration, and a window into Malaysia’s evolving role as a regional leader in aerospace, maritime, and increasingly, space technologies. As we open this edition of the magazine, it is both timely and essential to reflect on the journey that has brought Malaysia to this pivotal moment and to envision the future that awaits.
LIMA is more than an exhibition; it is Malaysia’s vibrant high-tech ecosystem. Decades of collaboration and vision have built the innovations we celebrate today. By continuing to work in unity across government, industry, academia, and startups, Malaysia is poised to become a true regional and global leader in innovation.
At MIGHT, our participation in LIMA goes far beyond a ceremonial role; it embodies our steadfast commitment to advancing Malaysia’s strategic industries and showcasing the nation’s growing technological capabilities. By embracing the convergence of cutting-edge technologies and breaking down traditional industry boundaries, we foster the integration of knowledge and innovation across the space, aerospace, advanced air mobility (AAM), and maritime sectors. This dynamic ecosystem thrives on purposeful dialogue and strong partnerships, uniting industry, government, academia and startups to collectively shape Malaysia’s high-tech future and drive sustainable growth in these vital sectors.
In this edition, we highlight four key sectors: space, aerospace, advanced air mobility (AAM) and maritime. These industries undergo significant transformation as they embrace advanced technologies to boost efficiency, safety and sustainability. Driven by the need to remain competitive and comply with evolving regulations, these sectors are adopting innovations such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, smart systems, decarbonisation and digitisation. This technological synergy is paving the way for a future where these industries are more resilient and high-performing, environmentally responsible and better equipped to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.
Malaysia possesses essential resources and is poised to capitalise on the industry’s future potential. In the past, the country’s foray into the space sector was driven by a national vision and strategic investments through several programmes, namely MEASAT, Tiung-SAT and Razak-SAT. The recent launch of UzmaSAT-1, the country’s first commercial high-resolution Earth observation satellite, marks another significant victory and a continued commitment to progressing further in this industry. The Malaysian aerospace industry is a key driver of the country’s high-tech economy and is ranked as the second largest in Southeast Asia. Guided by the Malaysia Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030 and the 12th Malaysia Plan, the Malaysian aerospace industry targets RM30 billion in revenue by 2025 and RM55 billion by 2030, with a focus on increasing local content and producing more complex products.
Furthermore, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) could become a new catalyst for the Malaysian aerospace industry. AAM promises to revolutionise urban connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and provide greener, more efficient transport options. AAM integrates emerging technologies such as electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, autonomous flight systems, and digital air traffic management to create new mobility solutions that complement the existing aerospace ecosystem. By fostering innovation and establishing regulatory frameworks that support AAM, Malaysia is opening new markets and creating opportunities for sustainable growth within the aerospace sector. The final sector, Malaysia’s shipbuilding and ship repair industry (SBSR), is growing steadily, supported by strategic locations like Lumut, Melaka and Johor, with investments totalling RM593.5 million from 2019 to 2024. The sector embraces green technologies and digitalisation, including electric vessels, IoT-enabled maintenance and automation.
We hope you enjoy reading this edition and find it useful. As industry professionals, government officials, academics and stakeholders in aerospace and maritime sectors, your insights and actions are crucial in shaping Malaysia’s high-tech future. May the insights and stories shared here inspire new ideas, spark meaningful conversations, and support your journey in the high-tech and innovation sectors.
by MOHD NURUL AZAMMI MOHD NUDRI
