Malaysia is committed to supporting the development of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry ecosystem as a new growth sector, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the government aims to fully leverage existing strengths to position Malaysia as a regional hub for the UAV industry.
He noted that the sector, projected to exceed a global market value of US$55 billion by 2030, could also add value across multiple industries, including disaster response and crisis management.
Anwar stressed that a clear UAV policy framework is needed to attract more investment and drive the next phase of the digital economy.
He said Malaysia must actively explore new technologies and emerging fields to remain economically competitive, adding that drones and artificial intelligence (AI)-related sectors require a strong and comprehensive ecosystem.
According to him, UAV technology should not be underestimated as it supports not only defence capabilities but also strengthens national resilience and improves public service delivery.
He added that drone usage can enhance situational awareness in the field, particularly in locating disaster victims and assisting rescue operations in hard-to-reach areas.
The Prime Minister made the remarks when officiating the closing ceremony of the MyDrone Expo.
Also present were Malaysia UAV World Federation (WUAVF) president Datuk Tay Kean Boon and former Civil Aviation Department director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman.
