Meraque Group (Meraque), a Malaysian company that delivers game-changing solutions harnessing the power of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and robotic technologies today announced it has bagged the Global Youth award at the Global Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition in Shandong, China.
Organised by the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong, the competition was held from 7 to 8 July 2023 in conjunction with the Global Youth Conference 2023. Meraque was the only company representing Malaysia and went head-to-head with representatives from various countries.
Md Razalee Ismail, the Chief Executive Officer of Meraque first pitched their solutions to a panel of judges on 7th June and emerged as the winner of the ASEAN chapter. The solutions that were pitched included Meraque’s UAVs and Autonomous Ground Vehicles (AGVs) products and solutions.
Robotic Agro in Complex Environment (RACE) was one of the AGVs highlighted. The first-ever Malaysian AGV was developed with a high-power computing module in the control system to reduce reliance on manpower and improve fertiliser spraying consistency in oil palm plantation fields as demanded by clients in the industry.
As a result of Meraque’s outstanding performance in Shandong, Meraque was proposed with a partnership offer that will see the establishment of Meraque’s manufacturing facility in the Shandong province. The manufacturing facility will be dedicated to producing selected Meraque technological products including UAVs and AGVs. These products will not only cater to the Chinese market but will also serve global markets as well. Meraque is currently finalising the terms of the partnership.
Chief Executive Officer of Meraque, Md Razalee Ismail said that the award solidifies their commitment to support Malaysia’s ambitions to become a major player in the global drone industry and a potential drone hub in ASEAN.
“We are truly honoured to be selected to receive such a prestigious award and to put Malaysia on the map. Meraque is on the brink of a high-potential growth industry and we are immensely excited about this opportunity to further expand our product offerings to the great China market. We are elated to be partnering with a renowned company in China whose vast understanding in their field will give us a prime advantage here.”
“Last year, we laid out plans to strengthen our technological capabilities to amplify our global expansion efforts and I must admit that we are making great strides. We have since increased our technology application line along with software-as-a-service offerings, allowing us to cater to a diverse range of industries – from agriculture to telecommunication. This award and partnership is a testament to our dedication to our mission- and we are only just beginning,” he added.
Meraque currently holds the largest market share for drone spraying services in Malaysia. Meraque aims to generate 1,000 job opportunities across the globe and envisions creating an economic impact of RM 90 million over the next 5 years through local and export revenues.
Meraque was named a Top 20 best drone technology service provider in the world in 2021 by Drone Industry Insights, a Market Research consultant based in Germany. The drone industry has captured a steadily rising audience with the global drone market forecasted to achieve US$41.3 billion in 2026 according to the Drone Market Report 2021-2026.