In conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of the Look East Policy, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry organised a Business Seminar on 11 August 2022 (Thursday) at Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

MAJECA was represented by its President, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim. Alongside him were senior members of the Executive Committee and various members of MAJECA. The senior members of the Executive Committee present at this Business Seminar included: YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, YBhg Dato’ Taib Abdul Hamid, Vice-President, YBhg Tan Sri Dr Michael Yeoh, Hon. Secretary and Mr Gary Tang, EXCO Member. The Opening Ceremony of the Business Seminar was graced by YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia and Mr Iwata Kazuchika, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan. H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia was also present, alongside the Chief Executives of MATRADE and MIDA.

The summary programme of the Business Seminar was as follows:

• 8.00 am: Arrival of the invitees and registration
• 9.00 am: Panel Discussion 1: Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Agenda in Post-Pandemic Growth
• 10.00 am: Opening Ceremony
• 10.45 am: Break
• 11.00 am: Panel Discussion 2: Government Policies and Strategies in Promoting Trade and Investment in Malaysia
• 12.15 pm: Panel Discussion 3: The Economic Impact of Geopolitical Tensions and Government’s Responses towards Economic Recovery
• 1.00 pm: Networking Luncheon hosted by MITI

The first Panel Discussion titled “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Agenda in Post-Pandemic Economic Growth” was moderated by Dr Hezri Adnan (pic below, left), Executive Director of the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER). The panel speakers comprised YBhg Dato’ Sri Norazman Ayob (pic below, centre), Deputy Secretary General (Industry), Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Mr Faroze Nadar, Adj. Professor (pic below, right), Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network.

Mr Iwata Kazuchika (pic below), Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan delivered his Special Remarks.

The Welcoming Remarks was delivered by YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (pic below), Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia.

The Senior Minister referenced MAJECA in his Remarks, noting that the Look East Policy was announced by the then Prime Minster of Malaysia YAB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the 5^th MAJECA – JAMECA Joint Conference in Kuala Lumpur, 1982.

On behalf of YAB Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, Prime Minister of Malaysia, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali read the Keynote Address of the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Further details on this speech can be read via these news articles: i) Bernama – Malaysia, Japan should venture into new areas of cooperation through Look East Policy, https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2109795&fbclid=IwAR0ONFswa-Gdkgpg6nR8c0tONW5TjNUKSWzKPU49RKy_gSGqKk09hiulqZA; ii) The Star – M’sia to strengthen ties with Japan, https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2022/08/12/msia-to-strengthen-ties-with-japan.

The Opening Ceremony concluded with a video presentation on the 40th Anniversary of the Look East Policy.

After the break, the Business Seminar then resumed with the Panel Discussion 2 titled “Government Policies and Strategies in Promoting Trade and Investment in Malaysia”. The discussion was moderated by Mr Muhammed Azmi Zulkifli (pic below, right), Chief Executive Officer, InvestKL. The panelists were YBhg Datuk Arham Abdul Rahman (pic below, 2^nd from left), Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), YBhg Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz (pic below, 2^nd from right), Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Mr Daiji Kojima (pic below, right), President, Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry Malaysia (JACTIM).

The third panel discussion, on “The Economic Impact of Geopolitical Tensions and Government’s Responses towards Economic Recovery”,was moderated by YBhg Dato’ Charon Wardini Mokhzani (pic below, left), Group Managing Director, Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF). The speakers were Mr Herizal Hazri (pic below, center), Chief Executive, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) and H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi (pic below, right), Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia.

The Business Seminar then adjourned with a Networking Luncheon hosted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia.

The following is photo gallery taken by MAJECA Secretariat:

YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim (left), President, MAJECA with YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (right), Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry.

(From left to right) Mr Auni Alias, Head, Investor Promotion & Relations, Cyberview Sdn Bhd, YBhg Datuk Mohd Najib Dato’ Ibrahim, Managing Director, Cyberview Sdn Bhd, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA, Mr Michael Chai, Secretary General, National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia and Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MAJECA.

(From left to right) Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary, MAJECA, YBhg Dato’ Taib Abdul Hamid, Vice-President, MAJECA, Ms Erin Tang, Principal Assistant Director, Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations, YBhg Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal, Vice-President, YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President, MAJECA and YBhg Tan Sri Dr Michael Yeoh, Hon. Secretary, MAJECA.