Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia will expand its exports ofdigital and creative multimedia services as part of the objectives to diversifyits trade portfolio, local online newspaper Free Malaysia Today reported.

Minister of International Trade and IndustryMustapa Mohamed was quoted by the paper on June 20 as saying that the countrycould no longer rely on such sectors as electricity, electronics and oil toboost economic growth. 

The biggest challenge for the expansion of thedigital industry in Malaysia is the acquiring of essential infrastructure,ecosystem and human resources, Mustapa added.

He also stressed that the Southeast Asiancountry needs talents with niche skills to create more exportable services.

Mustapa mentioned the animation series “EjenAli”, produced by a local company, describing it as one of Malaysia’s bestservices exports through the creative media industry. The series was not onlybroadcasted locally but exported to more than 25 countries, earning 10 millionRM (2.4 million USD) in 2016.

According to a report of the Ministry ofInternational Trade and Industry, in 2016, investment in the digital andcreative services sector involved nearly 4,200 new projects with about 88,110jobs expected to be created. The sector is expected to create 9.3 million jobsin 2020. - VNA