Credit : Prime Minister's Office
KUALA LUMPUR, October 23, 2026 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tonight called on Malaysian industry players to keep strengthening creativity and innovation through investment in research and development (R&D), digitalisation and technological transformation, as he officiated the Industry Excellence Award (Anugerah Kecemerlangan Industri, AKI) 2026 ceremony.
Anwar said the awards celebrated the achievements of local companies and recognised their excellence, competitiveness, innovation and business resilience in facing global competition.
“Alhamdulillah, tonight I had the opportunity to celebrate the success of local companies through the Industry Excellence Award (AKI) 2026 ceremony, as recognition of excellence, competitiveness, innovation and business resilience in facing global competition,” he said in a post shared on X.
“Creativity and innovation are the main strengths of industry, which must continue to be empowered through investment in research and development (R&D), digitalisation and technological transformation. Industry players need to adapt quickly to change, increase productivity and explore new, more competitive approaches,” he added.
The Prime Minister also urged a break from old ways of working. “If we want to bring Malaysia to a higher level of development, we cannot remain bound by outdated approaches. Instead, we must dare to carry out reforms and ensure that every plan is implemented effectively and produces real impact,” he said.
“May the progress of the industrial sector continue to benefit the people through the creation of quality jobs, the development of highly skilled talent and a higher standard of living,” Anwar said.
Photographs shared with the post showed Anwar delivering the keynote address, presenting an award on stage and signing a commemorative board for one of the participating companies.
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The ceremony was held at Menara MITI in Kuala Lumpur, Harian Metro reported. Also present were Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Deputy Minister Sim Tze Tzin and the ministry’s Deputy Secretary-General (Industry), Datuk Hanafi Sakri.
Speaking at the event, Johari said the country’s total trade rose 34 per cent in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period last year, with exports growing by more than 30 per cent, while imports also increased but at a slower pace than exports. He said the government wants Malaysian industry to move from assembly to design and engineering, from basic goods to high-technology, high value-added products, and from being domestic suppliers to trusted suppliers for multinational companies and global industry leaders.
Johari added that the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) sets the direction for taking the manufacturing sector to a higher level, with a focus on raising economic complexity through innovation and creativity, and widening the use of technology, digitalisation and automation in manufacturing. He also said local companies, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), should be part of investors’ supply chains to reduce dependence on imports.
The AKI was introduced in 1991 by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to recognise companies that show excellence in management practices, the quality of their products and services, and in delivering continued value to their stakeholders. It is now held every two years. Its categories include the Prime Minister’s Award, chosen from among the winners of the manufacturing sector, services sector and open category awards, as well as awards for Industry4WRD and ESG excellence.
The search for AKI 2026 winners was launched on March 3, 2025. At the launch, MITI noted that only 357 companies had taken part in the previous edition, compared with 33,333 manufacturing licences it had approved as of December 2024, and urged more companies to submit nominations.
Anwar also officiated the previous edition, AKI 2024, in Kuala Lumpur in June 2024, where he said the government was responsible for building internal strength by invigorating local industry, Bernama reported at the time.
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