The 39th edition of the MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference was held on 1st August 2022 at Hilton Kuala Lumpur.
This edition of the Joint Conference, hosted by MAJECA was themed ‘Post-Pandemic Challenges and Emerging Opportunities for Malaysia and Japan’.
This conference welcomed 150 participants from Malaysia and Japan representing members of JAMECA and MAJECA, including the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia and its agencies, alongside business associations, thinktanks and the business communities from both countries.
The Joint Conference was graced by the presence of YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry and YB Senator Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry who were joined by senior officials from MITI, MIDA and MATRADE. H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia was also present.
MAJECA was led by its President, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim. The delegation from JAMECA, was led by its President, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, Chairman of Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. The JAMECA delegation comprised the Chief Executives, Managing Directors, Corporate Leaders of leading Japanese corporations and the Chairman of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Japan, supported by their respective offices in the ASEAN region.
Over four decades, since 1977, MAJECA and its Japanese counterpart, Japan-Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA), have played a dynamic role to help Malaysia achieve its economic industrialisation goals. To date, more than 1,500 Japanese companies in many industrial sectors have located their businesses in Malaysia. With the challenges of the pandemic, the disruptions caused by the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the challenge of climate change, and now exacerbated by inflationary pressures and the geopolitical situation in Ukraine, MAJECA takes cognizance of the imperative for greater business collaboration in order to be able to compete effectively in the global marketplace.
Table of Contents
- VIP Meet-and-Greet Session
- Programme of the 39th MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference
- Opening Ceremony
- MOU Signing Ceremony
- Plenary Session 1
- Plenary Session 2
- Closing
- 39th MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference Photo Gallery
- Dinner
- Dinner Photo Gallery
- Newspaper Articles
- Joint Conference Presentations
VIP Meet-and-Greet Session
A VIP meet-and-greet session was held between the senior leaders of MAJECA and JAMECA before the Joint Conference.
From left to right:
YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA and Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice-President, JAMECA.
Programme of the 39th MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference
The Joint Conference programme can be found here:
Opening Ceremony
The Joint Conference began with welcome remarks from YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Secretary-General of the Joint Conference & Vice-President, MAJECA.
YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Secretary-General of the Joint Conference & Vice-President, MAJECA delivered the welcome remarks.
Following that, the leadership of MAJECA, JAMECA and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) delivered their Keynote Address to participants of the Joint Conference.
YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim,
Chairman of the 39th MAJECA – JAMEA Joint Conference & President of Malaysia-Japan Economic Association (MAJECA) delivered his keynote address.
Mr. Tsuyoshi Nagano,
Co-Chairman of the 39th MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference & President of Japan-Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA) delivered his keynote address.
Mr Nobuhiko Sasaki,
Chairman, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) delivered his keynote address.
Following on, the congratulatory messages by the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Prime Minister of Japan were read.
YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali,
Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, delivered his greetings to participants of the Joint Conference and read the congratulatory message by YAB Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia.
H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi,
Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia delivered his greetings to participants of the Joint Conference and read the congratulatory message by H.E. Kishida Fumio, the Prime Minister of Japan.
A group photo of the Opening Ceremony VIPs (from left to right):
Mr Kazuto Sasaki, Secretary General, JAMECA, H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice President, JAMECA, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, YB Senator Datuk Lim Ban Hong, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA and Mr Nobuhiko Sasaki, Chairman, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).
MOU Signing Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony also featured the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between OFO Tech Sdn. Bhd, Sumitomo Corporation Asia & Oceania Pte Ltd, and Softbank Corporation. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, and his Deputy, together with H.E. Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, the Chief Executives of MATRADE and MIDA, and the leaders from JETRO, MAJECA and JAMECA.
Plenary Session 1
The first Plenary Session of the Joint Conference focused on “Post-Pandemic Challenges and Emerging Opportunities”. The Plenary Session was moderated by Mr Takashi Kawabata, Senior Vice-President, Forensic Investigations and Intelligence Practice, Kroll Associates (S) Pte Ltd.
The moderator and panelists spoke on the economic outlook, lessons, including the investment outlook and opportunities arising from the COVID-19 recovery phase.
The presentation materials will be made available on the MAJECA website (www.majeca.org) after the Report is uploaded. Please stay tuned to the MAJECA website for the report.
The panelists were as follows:
Mr Takashi Kawabata, Senior Vice-President, Forensic Investigations and Intelligence Practice, Kroll Associates (S) Pte Ltd moderator of Plenary Session 1. 
Dr Anthony Dass, Group Chief Economist / Head of AmBank Research 
Mr Daiji Kojima, President, Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry (JACTIM), Malaysia 
YBhg Dato’ Hasan Azhari bin Hj. Idris, Chief Executive Officer, InvestSelangor 
Following the presentations, the Joint Conference proceeded into a panel discussion-cum-Q & A session led once more by Mr Takashi Kawabata. Plenary Session 1 concluded with a wrap-up by the moderator.
From left to right:
Mr Takashi Kawabata, Dr Anthony Dass, Mr Daiji Kojima and YBhg Dato’ Hasan Azhari bin Hj. Idris.
Plenary Session 2
Following a 10-minute break in the Foyer, the Joint Conference resumed with the second Plenary Session, titled “Post-Pandemic Challenges and Emerging Opportunities in the area of Digitalisation”. This Plenary Session was moderated by YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Secretary-General of the Joint Conference & Vice-President, MAJECA.
Plenary Session 2 presented the case for digital adoption and digital transformation in businesses and how the speaker organisations have developed their solutions to achieve this in the areas of fintech, e-commerce and intelligent & industrial applications in multiple sectors.
The panelists were as follows:
YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Secretary-General of the Joint Conference & Vice-President, MAJECA moderator of Plenary Session 2. 
Mr Tan Soo Eng, Senior Solutions Director, Silverlake Axis 
Mr Otohiko Kozutsumi, Chief Commercial Officer & Co-Founder, AnyMind Group Ltd. 
Mr Amsyar Faiz, Business Development Director, OFO Tech Sdn Bhd 
Following the presentations, YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal moderated a panel discussion-cum-Q & A session. Plenary Session 2 concluded with a wrap-up by the moderator.
From left to right:
Mr Amsyar Faiz, Mr Otohiko Kozutsumi, YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal and Mr Tan Soo Eng.
Closing
The Joint Conference adjourned with closing remarks by the President of MAJECA and Vice President of JAMECA.
YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim,
Chairman of the 39th MAJECA – JAMEA Joint Conference & President of MAJECA delivered his closing remarks.
Mr Kuniharu Nakamura,
Vice President, JAMECA delivered his closing remarks and announced the 40th Joint Conference which will be hosted by JAMECA in Japan.
From left to right:
Mr Kazuto Sasaki, Secretary General, JAMECA, Mr Kuniharu Nakamura, Vice President, JAMECA, Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano, President, JAMECA, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA and YBhg Tan Sri Dr Michael Yeoh, Hon. Secretary, MAJECA.
39th MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference Photo Gallery
From left to right:
YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, MAJECA, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia
Dinner
MAJECA hosted a Dinner reception for the invited guests and participants of the Joint Conference. This Dinner was entertained by YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim and University Malaya Symphony Orchestra.
YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim,
President, MAJECA delivered his Welcome Speech at the Dinner.
Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano,
President, JAMECA delivered a Reciprocal Speech at the Dinner.
An exchange of souvenirs between YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim (left), President, MAJECA and Mr Tsuyoshi Nagano (right), President, JAMECA.
Dinner Photo Gallery
The 39th edition of the MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference was made possible through the extensive efforts and cooperation from our co-host, Japan – Malaysia Economic Association (JAMECA), the role-players and sponsors namely: AmBank Group, Silverlake Axis Sdn Bhd, UMW Holdings Berhad, OFO Tech Sdn Bhd, Pan Sarawak Holdings Sdn Bhd, Invest Selangor, Invest Perak, THAMASS Sdn Bhd, Puncak Niaga Holdings Berhad, RK South Asia Sdn Bhd and Farlim Group (Malaysia) Berhad.
AmBank Group
AmBank Group is a leading financial services group with over 40 years of expertise in supporting the economic development of Malaysia.
Silverlake Axis
Silverlake Axis creates technologies to enable the Digital Economy. What sets us apart is the foundation for our computing principles, which are grounded on mathematical models. Through the years, Silverlake Axis has evolved using mathematics to refine, expand and invent technologies, broadening into new industries and markets at the same time.
Founded in 1989, Silverlake Axis has built an impeccable track record of successful core banking implementations. After years of successes across the region, Silverlake Axis was listed on Singapore’s Stock Exchange (SGX) SESDAQ in 2003 and moved up to SGX Mainboard in 2011.
UMW Holdings Berhad
The UMW Group, started operations in 1917, is a regional group that develops industries, manages partnerships and facilitates growth. It is involved in four core business segments – Automotive, Equipment, Manufacturing & Engineering and Aerospace. Strategic alliances with leading global organisations have helped position the UMW Group as a leader in its core businesses. The Group operates in 8 countries, namely, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and has over 18,000 employees, including at Perodua.
Newspaper Articles
The 39th MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference has been covered in the following:
- MAJECA, JAMECA perlu fokus kepada sektor baharu yang inovatif, bernilai tambah – Azmin, Berita RTM, https://berita.rtm.gov.my/index.php/ekonomi/44442-majeca-jameca-perlu-fokus-kepada-sektor-baharu-yang-inovatif-bernilai-tambah-azmin
- Malaysia’s involvement in IPEF will help resolve WRO issues — Azmin, Bernama, https://www.bernama.com/en//news.php?id=2106160
- Malaysia’s involvement in IPEF will help resolve Withhold Release Orders issues, says Azmin, The Edge, https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysias-involvement-ipef-will-help-resolve-withhold-release-orders-issues-says-azmin
- コロナ後の２国間関係を協議 日マ経済協議会、３年ぶり対面会議 (Discussing the bilateral relations post-Corona, the Japan – Malaysia Economic Association meets face-to-face after three years), NNA Asia, https://www.nna.jp/news/show/2371592
Joint Conference Presentations
The slides that have been made available for distribution by the speakers of the Joint Conference can be accessed here.
MAJECA would like to record its utmost appreciation to all our partners who have made this event possible.
MAJECA 