Welcome to E-News Update from Plastics & Rubber Asia

he Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) has received a RM3 million grant from the government for its Talent Development Programme (TDP), to create an innovative workforce and to drive ODM instead of OEM production in the country. Meanwhile, the sector had a turnover of RM15.8 billion in 2010, an increase of 8.2% over the previous year.

Speaking at the association's 44th Anniversary Dinner recently, MPMA President Lim Kok Boon said that total exports of plastics finished products of RM9.4 billion in 2010 increased by 14.6% compared to RM8.2 billion recorded in 2009. Total exports to total turnover ratio increased to 59% compared to 56% in 2009.

As for the TDP, Lim said, "Given the dynamic global economic environment, companies must assess whether the skills and competitive position of our knowledge workers are adequate for us to venture into an innovation-led economy which requires a highly skilled, creative and competitive workforce and companies must continue to invest in the development of human capital, which is one of the central strategies in the formulation of Malaysia's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). Therefore the MPMA TDP is most timely and beneficial for the plastics industry."

The MPMA TDP was developed based on a proposal from MPMA entitled "Innovation and Capacity Building: Transforming the Industry from OEM to ODM". The objective of the proposal is to strengthen the plastics industry to be globally competitive in terms of product quality, technical application as well as to develop higher technological products. The design for the proposal was taken from MPMA's Technology Roadmap which was developed in 2008 based on inputs provided by MPMA members.

The TDP will be implemented by MPMA with the primary objective to upgrade the skills level of the Malaysian plastics industry as envisioned in the Government's Strategic Eeform Initiatives (SRI) for human resource development as outlined in the New Economic Model (NEM) for Malaysia.

Early in the year, MPMA also signed an MOU with SIRIM, the national research, standards and quality agency, whereby SIRIM will administer the grant and ensure the utilisation of the grant is in accordance to governance.

The MPMA-TDP is for a period of two years for 220 trainees. The programme structure will cover Intermediate and Advanced Training with Certification as well as Trainers Training with Certification.