Publish Date : 02-Aug-2013
Today, Thales, a global leader in ground transportation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) to promote human capital development for the country's rail industry. The signing was attended by YAB Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prime Minister of France. This MoU is the first of a series of initiatives planned by the government to support development for Malaysia's rail industry.
The purpose of these initiatives is to address the challenges facing Malaysia's rail industry, particularly the lack of relevant skills. This first MoU is part of a key project to create a Rail Centre of Excellence (RCOE). MIGHT and Thales will provide specific content for the RCOE in the field of signalling and communications for main line and urban rail, including courseware, train-the-trainer programmes, project management support and facilities.
The Malaysian government is committed to developing the country's public transportation infrastructure and recognises the rail industry's critical need for people with the relevant technical qualifications and skills. This concern is highlighted in the National Rail Industry Development Roadmap, which led to the development of the RCOE. This will be achieved through partnerships with rail industry players, both local and international. MIGHT is responsible for setting up the RCOE and establishing the necessary partnerships.
The RCOE will initially provide education and training. Subsequently, it will also include research and development activities and will host small and medium enterprises and original equipment manufacturers, including production facilities.
Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, President and CEO of MIGHT, highlighted the importance of this public-private initiative: "Thales, as a member of MIGHT, has expressed genuine interest in the long-term development of Malaysia's rail industry and recognises that this begins by developing and fostering local talent and transferring the necessary expertise."
Pascale Sourisse, Senior Executive Vice-President of Thales in charge of international development commented on the importance of this collaboration: "Thales has a wealth of experience in knowledge transfer across all its areas of expertise and is delighted to support this industrial initiative in Malaysia."
Over the last 30 years, Thales has provided training for over 5,000 people. The Group has a strong presence in the Middle East and, more recently, in Romania. With this latest MoU, Thales, through its in-house university training organisation, is further extending its involvement in human capital development to Asia.
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