UPCLOSE WITH TS SHAMSUL KAMAR ABU SAMAH
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Aerospace Industry Corporation Malaysia
From Head of National Aerospace Industry Coordinating Office (NAICO) to his current position as NAICO Malaysia CEO in a matter of seven years after his appointment in April 2023, Shamsul Kamar has been pivotal in driving growth within the aerospace industry via collaborations and knowledge-sharing with both the government and industry players.
The recently announced New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), complementing the Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030, is set to transform Malaysia into a global hub for aerospace manufacturing and services.
The 49-year-old professional technologist and founding member of NAICO Malaysia now helms a much bigger team compared to four staff before. Considering himself a second-generation leader in his field of expertise, he is committed to grooming the next generation of young talents beyond being just technocrats and engineering aerospace professionals.
He would also like to see them equipped with the competencies such as dealing with international business matters and become a technologist like himself.
What is the difference between NAICO Malaysia and NAICO as both share the same acronym?
While NAICO Malaysia remains an agency of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITl) dedicated to bolster the local aerospace ecosystem, we are keen to further expand and propel it to the next level of excellence and gain more global prominence.
Endorsed by the Cabinet on October 18 2022, NAICO Malaysia has made its home at the MATRADE Tower after starting operations on April 1, 2023. We have maintained the acronym as it is an established name that has earned worldwide recognition from Japan, France, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US).
Has NAICO Malaysia’s responsibilities been enlarged as a result?
As a coordinating office previously, NAICO operates based on specific scope that limits our engagements with external parties which include establishing of any memorandum of understandings (MoUs). Under NAICO Malaysia, to date we have signed more than 10 MoUs with various organisations, including learning institutions to advance the industry.
Among them are the MoUs signed at Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2023 with Technological Association Malaysia and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia to develop aerospace professionals as well as technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
At the 6th edition of the Malaysia Aerospace Summit 2023 (MyAero’23) themed ‘Bridging Digital Frontiers for Sustainable Skies’ organised by us from November 15-16, we also had MoU exchanges with Aerospace Malaysia Innovation Centre, Terengganu Incorporated Sdn Bhd, The Institution of Engineers Malaysia, NanoMalaysia Berhad, MIT Academy Sdn Bhd and MiraKama Sdn Bhd, whom we are in talks in regards of strategic cooperation for specific areas such as research and technology (R&T), competency and industry development. The aim is to spur the growth of Malaysia’s aerospace industry and to be able to compete with other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia.
In addition, we are focusing on aerospace clusters development in an effort to prepare Malaysia as the preferred hub for aerospace business. To achieve this ambition, we sealed MoUs with Invest Selangor Berhad and NS Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd on aerospace development initiative in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan respectively.
What are some highlights of NAICO Malaysia’s activities this year?
NAICO Malaysia organised with Boeing an aerospace supply chain forum on October 10. This is the first time Boeing, a global aerospace original equipment manufacturer (OEM) carried out such a programme in Malaysia. Prior to this event, we lead a few aerospace players for an international mission to Japan in collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry as it is also in conjunction with Aeromart Nagoya.
We had technical visits to a few Japan companies and universities with the possibility for further potential collaborations. With aerospace being one of the key sectors identified in the NIMP 2030, we are looking at bringing in more high-value and technology investment into Malaysia.
Tell us more about the Malaysia Aerospace Centre of Excellence (MyAERO Centre) launched during LIMA 2023 to drive the development of a sustainable aerospace ecosystem in the country.
Its three focus areas are supply chain, competency development as well as R & T. Besides engineering and design, other labs that MyAERO Centre will look into are robotics and automation, digital technology and advanced manufacturing. We can also provide industry facilitation to investors and consultancy services to local players who wish to expand their aerospace business. In tandem with the development of new technology, including new processes, part of it involves talent development as well besides bringing in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) to support the aircraft industry, where we are looking at more than 4,000 new aircraft in the next 15 years not only for Malaysia but also for the region.
We are currently supplying not only specialised parts but also initiating specialised engineering activities. Providing continuous supply is key besides investing in industry-led programmes. That is where MyAERO Centre plays a key role.
The recent MyAERO’23 saw us promoting local digital providers and their homegrown processes. I do not want to see in our industry disruptions in operations and supplies. If we have a hybrid solution, we can continue to operate with minimum presence in our work. That is why we promote robotics.
How big is your new team? Is it sufficient to meet NAICO Malaysia’s present needs?
My current team comprises 12 members, of which five are engineers, including myself apart from three international business experts. The team is female dominated as we have only five male staff. We are looking at a maximum of 17 staff with vacancies to be met by the first quarter of 2024.
We plan is to bring in more interns and to further expand our manpower, experts from the industry and academia, especially technical training organisations, can be seconded to NAICO Malaysia as part of our project team. It will be a win-win for all parties and we could start with those that we have signed MoUs with.
We have one division looking into industry development activities, including business development for the long- term sustainability of the aerospace industry while another explores strategic plans and possible growth. Working hand-in-hand, both divisions focus on the technical aspects and commercial value of the projects.
Considering yourself as the second generation in the aerospace community who is actively involved in developing the third generation, what do you hope to achieve and impart to them?
At NAICO Malaysia, we aim to position Malaysia to be the top talent supplier in Southeast Asia, producing technical expertise combined with abilities to do trade facilitation and more. With our human capital marketable worldwide, they can work throughout Europe, Japan, the UK and the US.
TVET is a key support element in our industry, accounting for 75% while engineering makes up the rest. We supply not only specialised parts but also organise specialised engineering activities for the industry. In fact, NAICO Malaysia has been endorsed by the Department of Skills Development under the Ministry of Human Resources as the Industry Lead Body for aerospace industry to conduct activities relevant to TVET. The Malaysia Board of Technologists acknowledged us as Technical Expert Panel for aerospace and aviation technology and we aspire to promote Continuous Professional Development within the industry.
I even challenged my team to be recognised as professional technologists and business management experts. I also believe in instilling trust and professionalism in the young ones as these qualities are key to their success.
You intend to bring the aerospace industry to the next level. What would that entail?
We are trying to move to the next level in terms of technological advancements with plans to establish an engineering and design centre by the second quarter of 2024 and be able to use our first lab to promote homegrown products such as drones.
We would like to encourage the digital adaptation of advanced and green technology besides the use of satellites. We also hope to localise as much as we can the production of parts and components for the global OEMs. Additionally, the challenge for us is to keep up the momentum with our competitors such as Singapore and the UK by having highly qualified manpower.
You mentioned recently that the aerospace industry is on track to achieve RM18 billion in revenue for 2023. However, you are cautiously optimistic about 2024 outlook for the industry. Would you care to explain why?
Given the potential of new contracts worth RM 5.7 billion secured by the local supply chain, we expect this year to return to pre-pandemic levels. However, with this highly regulative and fast-moving industry anticipated to move in a different phase altogether and bearing in mind the safe delivery, the costs can be very critical.