KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke hopes the biennial Transport Expo Asia (TXA) will develop into a premier international showcase on par with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA), drawing top global exhibitors and industry investors to Malaysia.

Loke said that the event serves as an ideal launchpad to spotlight progress across land transport, aviation, maritime, and logistics sectors, placing particular emphasis on emerging technologies like autonomous driving, robotics, and unmanned aerial systems.

“We want TXA to establish its own brand, much like LIMA, which has become synonymous with Malaysia’s defence industry,” he said during a press conference after witnessing the exchange of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and bilateral cooperation documents in conjunction with TXA 2026.

Loke pointed out that LIMA, established in the early 1990s, built a formidable global reputation over decades by convening aerospace and maritime manufacturers from around the globe.

He expressed confidence that TXA can chart an identical growth path, anticipating even stronger corporate participation when the exhibition returns for its third edition in 2028.

The trade event has already gained solid traction, recording nearly 5,000 visitors on its opening day yesterday, according to Loke.

The exhibition floor also served as a catalyst for dealmaking, facilitating the formalisation of 17 cooperation pacts aimed at driving sectoral expansion and technology transfer.

“This is something we encourage through Transport Expo Asia, as it provides a platform for industry players to establish strategic partnerships and use the opportunity to formalise their agreements or MoUs.

“We certainly hope this will help drive growth in the transport sector through greater strategic cooperation,” he said.

Rail modernization formed the centrepiece of the commercial exchanges, accounting for 13 of the 17 signed documents, while the remaining four addressed road mobility and maritime operations.

The multilateral pacts bring together government agencies, local operators, tertiary institutions, and overseas strategic partners, advancing Putrajaya’s broader infrastructural modernisation objectives outlined in the National Transport Policy 2030.

Loke said that the Transport Ministry is actively nudging corporations to deepen collaborative research and development with domestic public universities to accelerate the commercial deployment of homegrown inventions.

He cited university-designed vehicular and road safety innovations as tangible proof of how academic-industry links solve real-world mobility challenges.

To nurture youth talent, the exhibition also highlighted tertiary-level innovation initiatives, including a road safety challenge organised in collaboration with energy firm Shell that task university students with creating deployable crash-prevention solutions.

First established in 2025 as the Transport Ministry’s flagship international mobility and logistics exposition, TXA convenes policymakers, venture capitalists, engineering suppliers, and tech developers under one roof. The current three-day showcase runs through Oct 22.