KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia aims to position Kuala Lumpur as a leading startup hub in the region and among the world’s top 20 startup ecosystems by 2030, says Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (pic).
The Economy Minister said the goal would be pursued through the KL20 2026 Summit, which will focus on the creative economy, digital economy, digital games and the third-sector economy.
“Initiatives such as the ‘single window’ platform have been introduced to streamline processes, but feedback indicates the current system is not yet sufficient.
“For KL20 2026, the strategy is to be more targeted rather than speaking broadly about ‘startups’ or ‘tech’,” Akmal Nasrullah said after the summit’s pre-launch event yesterday.
According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2026, Kuala Lumpur ranks between 31st and 40th among emerging global startup ecosystems, with an estimated ecosystem value of US$9bil (RM36.8bil) generated between late 2023 and 2025.
On the KL20 2026 Summit, Akmal Nasrullah said it would run from September to November across Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.
The series will begin with KL20 @ Penang on Sept 24, focusing on the semiconductor and electrical and electronics sectors to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a regional integrated circuit design hub.
KL20 @ Johor will begin on Sept 28, highlighting the creative economy and digital gaming to support the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and create high-value jobs.
The summit will culminate in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 5.
