(Kuching, 28th) Sarawak, in its development of the aerospace and “New Space” sectors, is adopting a people-oriented development policy, making talent, institutions, and systems the foundation for building a sustainable ecosystem.
Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari, stated that the state government is building long-term capabilities in a gradual manner, with education, good governance, solid industry partnerships, and practical, applicable use cases as the foundation.
He pointed out that one of Sarawak’s early focuses is on coordination and governance, which led to the establishment of the Sarawak Aerospace Advisory Council.
He said: “This council ensures that the advancement of aerospace and New Space development is well-coordinated between state and federal agencies, aligns with the national framework, meets genuine industry needs, and is driven by long-term planning instead of scattered individual initiatives.”
He stated that this level of governance is particularly crucial for the aerospace sector, as the field’s certification standards are strict, R&D cycles are long, and credibility tends to outweigh speed. “Therefore, Sarawak is taking a ‘systematic’ approach to develop the aerospace industry.”
Abang Johari made these remarks during his keynote speech at the launch of the Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference and Exhibition 2026 (APACE 2026), held on Tuesday (January 27) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
Given that the aerospace and New Space industries are highly dependent on human capital, he noted that Sarawak has placed education and talent development at the core of its aerospace strategy.
He said that the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS) has established a School of Aerospace Engineering, which operates under the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) to broaden opportunities for the public to enter high-value disciplines.
“We are also simultaneously launching three new MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) courses, focused on airframe and avionics systems. These courses are designed to meet real industry demands, covering aspects such as aircraft operations and safety, maintenance, repair and certification, as well as advanced avionics and digital aircraft systems.”
Meanwhile, Abang Johari emphasized that the ‘Sarawak Talent Development Policy and Blueprint’ reflects the state government’s strategic and long-term commitment to building a highly skilled, flexible, innovative and future-ready workforce to support Sarawak’s economic transformation.
He pointed out that besides nurturing talent, Sarawak also places great importance on talent retention, enhancing workforce retention through clear career development paths, strong industry connections, and an environment conducive to growth and development.
“Initiatives like APACE play a key role in translating policy into action by aligning education and training with industry needs and enhancing employability, ensuring that our talent development efforts bring tangible results for sustainable growth and long-term prosperity.”
He said: “Our goal is very clear—not only to enable Sarawakians to enter the aerospace field, but also to equip them with true capabilities and expertise.”
Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari, stated that the state government is building long-term capabilities in a gradual manner, with education, good governance, solid industry partnerships, and practical, applicable use cases as the foundation.
He pointed out that one of Sarawak’s early focuses is on coordination and governance, which led to the establishment of the Sarawak Aerospace Advisory Council.
He said: “This council ensures that the advancement of aerospace and New Space development is well-coordinated between state and federal agencies, aligns with the national framework, meets genuine industry needs, and is driven by long-term planning instead of scattered individual initiatives.”
Abang Johari made these remarks during his keynote speech at the launch of the Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference and Exhibition 2026 (APACE 2026), held on Tuesday (January 27) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
Given that the aerospace and New Space industries are highly dependent on human capital, he noted that Sarawak has placed education and talent development at the core of its aerospace strategy.
He said that the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak (i-CATS) has established a School of Aerospace Engineering, which operates under the Free Tertiary Education Scheme (FTES) to broaden opportunities for the public to enter high-value disciplines.
“We are also simultaneously launching three new MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) courses, focused on airframe and avionics systems. These courses are designed to meet real industry demands, covering aspects such as aircraft operations and safety, maintenance, repair and certification, as well as advanced avionics and digital aircraft systems.”
Meanwhile, Abang Johari emphasized that the ‘Sarawak Talent Development Policy and Blueprint’ reflects the state government’s strategic and long-term commitment to building a highly skilled, flexible, innovative and future-ready workforce to support Sarawak’s economic transformation.
He pointed out that besides nurturing talent, Sarawak also places great importance on talent retention, enhancing workforce retention through clear career development paths, strong industry connections, and an environment conducive to growth and development.
“Initiatives like APACE play a key role in translating policy into action by aligning education and training with industry needs and enhancing employability, ensuring that our talent development efforts bring tangible results for sustainable growth and long-term prosperity.”
He said: “Our goal is very clear—not only to enable Sarawakians to enter the aerospace field, but also to equip them with true capabilities and expertise.”