Malaysia To Establish Orange Economy Council To Strengthen Creative Industries
Malaysia will establish an Orange Economy Council to strengthen the country’s creative industries and support economic growth during a period of global energy uncertainty. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the council will coordinate national efforts to expand sectors such as film, music and animation, which collectively contributed 6.8 per cent to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024. Further details of the initiative were reported by Bernama.
New Council To Coordinate Creative Economy Development
The council will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, with Malaysia’s Communications Ministry acting as one of its secretariats and playing a central coordinating role. Several committees will also be formed to accelerate implementation.
Fahmi said the ministry had been instructed to expedite the establishment of the council as the government looks to strengthen economic sectors that are less dependent on energy-intensive industries.
Creative Sector Seen As Growing Economic Contributor
The orange economy refers broadly to creative and cultural industries, including film production, music, animation and other digital creative activities. The sector’s contribution of 6.8 per cent to Malaysia’s GDP in 2024 highlights its growing role in national economic development.
Strengthening these industries also aligns with Malaysia’s broader digital transformation agenda, including ongoing efforts to improve connectivity and digital infrastructure nationwide, as outlined in initiatives supporting a connected digital future.
NADI Centres Supporting Digital And Creative Participation
Fahmi highlighted the role of the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) network in enabling digital and creative activities at the community level. These centres provide infrastructure and high-speed internet access to support digital participation, entrepreneurship and skills development.
Malaysia currently operates 1,098 NADI centres nationwide, serving approximately 1.9 million registered members. In Johor alone, 101 centres support around 200,000 members.
Through initiatives that strengthen connectivity and cybersecurity capabilities, the government aims to build a more resilient digital economy, complementing broader national priorities such as those outlined in programmes supporting secure and reliable digital infrastructure.
A new NADI centre is also under development in Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and is expected to be completed within the next two to three months.
Community Engagement Through NADI Advisory Panels
Fahmi made the announcement after attending the appointment ceremony for the chairman of the advisory panel of the Johor National Information Dissemination Centre. During the event, appointment letters were presented to 26 chairmen of NADI advisory panels across the state.
The appointments are intended to strengthen community participation and improve coordination of programmes delivered through NADI centres. According to Fahmi, the advisory panels will help ensure that initiatives implemented at these facilities better reflect local priorities and community needs.
Separately, appointment letters for chairmen of MADANI Communities across Johor are expected to be distributed in mid-April as part of wider efforts to reinforce local engagement with government programmes.
