Perak strengthens TVET to prepare youth for jobs and entrepreneurship as major economic zones create thousands of opportunities.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Perak state government will continue to strengthen Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure local youth are equipped to seize job and entrepreneurial opportunities created by several major economic development zones.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said that human capital development must align with the state’s economic trajectory to ensure that Perak youth possess the necessary skills and local entrepreneurs are capable of capitalising on this economic growth.
“I want young people to view TVET not merely as a pathway to securing employment, but as the foundation for building their future.
“A young person skilled in culinary arts, the automotive sector, digital technology, engineering, or the creative industries already has the foundation to become an entrepreneur,” he said when officiating the PERAK Gen Showcase 2026 programme at Medan MARA today.
The event was also attended by Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and MARA director-general Datuk Zulfikri Osman.
Saarani said that under the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan, the state government is placing strong emphasis on human capital development, the TVET Corridor, and the creation of quality economic opportunities for its people.
He said Perak is building the foundation of its future economy through several key growth areas, including the Automotive High Technology Valley (AHTV) in Tanjong Malim, the Lumut Maritime Industrial City (LuMIC), the Perak Halal Industrial Park, the Silver Valley Technology Park, and the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park.
According to Saarani, LuMIC is expected to attract investments worth RM72 billion over the next 25 years and create around 50,000 jobs and the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park is projected to provide at least 30,000 employment opportunities for those with vocational skills.
“We don’t want our youth simply watching development from the sidelines. We want them to drive this growth, contribute to it, and shape Perak’s new success story,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saarani said the tourism sector is also opening up vast opportunities for entrepreneurs, noting that Perak recorded an increase in overnight domestic tourist arrivals to 10.4 million in 2025, up from 10.2 million in 2024, and registered 23.6 million domestic visitors last year.
Earlier, Saarani noted that the four-day PERAK Gen Showcase 2026, which began yesterday, features 75 booths spanning the food and beverage, lifestyle and tourism sectors, and aims to generate RM1 million in sales while attracting 10,000 visitors.
