LANGKAWI: A new Aerospace Academy Sarawak is set to take off following a strategic joint venture between Aviation Design Centre Sdn Bhd (an associate of National Aerospace and Defence Industries, NADI) and the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Yayasan Sarawak.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) 2025.
The newly formed Aerospace Academy Sarawak Sdn Bhd will focus on aerospace manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) training, positioning itself as a leading institution in East Malaysia and potentially nationwide.
The collaboration was formalised with the handover of the Certificate of Incorporation from Aviation Design Centre to CENTEXS, symbolising the joint venture’s official launch, and aims to build a skilled local workforce to meet the demands of Malaysia’s rapidly growing aerospace industry.
“This partnership will be a strategic milestone for our organisations and Sarawak and Malaysia.
“Together, we aspire to establish Sarawak and Malaysia as a regional hub for aerospace talent and innovation,” said Aviation Design Centre managing director Ezry Bakar Ahmad.
CENTEXS chief executive officer Datuk Syed Mohd Hussein Wan Abdul Rahman expressed pride in joining the initiative, stating that the Aerospace Academy will create opportunities for youth to enter high-value, high-tech industries.
“CENTEXS is proud to be part of this forward-thinking initiative.
“The Aerospace Academy will open doors for our youth to enter high-value, high-tech industries, supporting Sarawak’s and Malaysia’s long-term vision for a diversified economy,” he said.
Both partners have trained nearly 100 youths at their Lundu and Subang campuses since November 2024.
The Aerospace Academy will offer globally aligned aerospace technology and MRO programmes, combining Aviation Design Centre’s industry experience with CENTEXS’s expertise in technical training, innovation, and commercialisation.
The academy is expected to create high-skilled employment opportunities and support Sarawak’s broader push for industrial transformation.
If successful, the model may be replicated in other parts of the country to scale Malaysia’s capabilities in the global aerospace sector.
