Transport Ministry Proposes Biennial Schedule For Transport Expo Asia With Next Edition Set For 2028

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 – Transport Minister Anthony Loke has proposed establishing Transport Expo Asia (TXA) as a permanent biennial event, targeting the next edition for 2028 to showcase regional transport technologies, digital innovations, and commercial partnerships.

Speaking at the official opening of TXA 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Loke emphasized that a recurring two-year cycle will provide a dedicated platform for land, aviation, maritime, and logistics sectors to adopt international best practices.

“I hope that TXA will be organised once every two years,” Loke stated, noting that government expenditure on public transit and infrastructure maintenance must translate into domestic manufacturing contracts across the supply chain.

The opening ceremony was attended by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, and Transport Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Jana Santhiran Muniayan.

Strategic Separation From LIMA and Supply Chain Integration

Key operational background, economic objectives, and exhibition details outlined at TXA 2026 include:

• Separation From LIMA: Loke revealed that the decision to launch TXA stemmed from space constraints at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA). Cabinet approved the ministry’s proposal two years ago to establish TXA as a civil transport exhibition, allowing LIMA to focus primarily on defense sector acquisitions.
• TXA 2026 Scale: Running from October 20 to 22, the 2026 edition spans 15,000 square meters and features 410 commercial exhibitors and technology innovators, along with autonomous vehicle demonstrations.
• Domestic Supply Chain Localization: The Transport Ministry urged original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to partner with local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to supply components and support maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services across rail, aviation, and road transport networks.
• Commercial Pacts: While no specific transactional targets were disclosed for the event’s first large-scale iteration, several commercial agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) are scheduled for execution over the three-day exhibition.

The Ministry aims to use TXA as a permanent catalyst for decarbonization, transport safety enhancements, and trade expansion across Southeast Asia.

–NMT